Natural phosphorus resources are gradually being depleted, nitrogen fixation consumes a lot of energy and carbon is lost from the soil. At the same time, numerous organic biomasses contain valuable nutrients and organic matter that could reduce the consumption of natural resources and emissions to air and water via optimal recycling.
Efficient processing technologies, logistics and end-use solutions enable new business, but there are also open issues related to starting the production and developing the market:
Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) provides answers to these and many other questions with the help of strong expertise and an internationally unique Nutrient Calculator Tool.
With the help of Nutrient Calculator Tool, we can produce calculations and optimization proposals at three levels, at the level of municipalities, of administrative regions or of Finland as a whole, according to the customer's needs.
The Nutrient Calculator Tool contains information on more than 20 different agricultural, municipal, and industrial biomass types from manure to bakery waste. Numerous alternative process chains and end-use options are available scenarizing the processing and use of all biomasses included.
With the help of the service from Luke, the customer receives information on the availability of the biomass of interest and the amounts of dry matter and nutrients in the chosen area. It is also possible to study their processing possibilities and the quantities and nutrient contents of the end-products formed, as well as the regional for the fertilizer use.
The customer will also receive indicative information on the effects of the chosen practices on nitrogen loss and on the effects of fertilization activities on the phosphorus content of the field soil and thus on the risk of emissions to waters. The information provided by the service enables customers to make decisions about, for example, starting a new business related to recycled fertilizer products.
Luke has knowledge based on long-term research on biomasses, nutrients, biomass processing technologies, nutrient recycling, the nutrient needs of crop production and the environmental impact of agriculture.
As a synthesis of this extensive data, Luke has developed a unique Nutrient Calculator Tool that allows Luke to provide its customers with information on biomass properties, regional location, and optimal processing even faster and more efficiently.
The Nutrient Calculator Tool was originally developed in co-operation with Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The then-developed version is in official use by different authorities. Luke continues to develop the tool as its own work to better serve its customers.
