Finnish researchers develop recycled fertilizers to secure European food production

Finland must rapidly improve its expertise in using recycled fertilizers as European food production remains overly dependent on imports such as nitrogen from Russia, according to a report by Yle.

At the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) research station in Jokioinen, new solutions for recycled fertilizers are being developed in collaboration with Finnish startups.

Russia’s recent decision to raise customs duties effectively halts fertilizer imports from the country, raising concerns about nitrogen supply for next spring’s growing season. Nitrogen is critical for agriculture, and without it, crop yields would collapse.

“When imports from Russia stop, we’ll have to source nitrogen from elsewhere in the world. The next growing season could be difficult,” said Kimmo Rasa, research director at Luke.

Recycled fertilizers—processed from manure, sludge, and other biomass—offer a potential solution. Luke and startups are working together to develop new processing technologies, with Finland positioning itself as a global leader in the field.

Industrial side streams are already being used, but Rasa emphasized the need to expand recycling processes and invest in new technologies. Wastewater treatment, for example, currently releases nitrogen into the atmosphere rather than capturing it for reuse.

“All of this needs to be rethought to make nitrogen use more self-sufficient,” Rasa said.

Startups play a key role in advancing Finland’s position in recycled fertilizer production, with Luke providing research facilities in Jokioinen for testing new products and technologies.

“I’d like to see new nutrient recycling technologies that can improve nitrogen recovery and use in biomass,” Rasa added.

A significant market for these solutions exists in Central Europe, where demand for sustainable fertilizer alternatives is growing.