Finnish farmer turns to recycled fertilizers as global crises drive up synthetic costs

Recycled fertilizers are gaining importance in Finland due to supply security and environmental concerns, though high costs and regulatory hurdles still slow wider adoption, reports Yle.

Farmer Aleksis Kyrö spreads nutrient-rich recycled fertilizer—a byproduct of biomass digestion—onto his fields in Orimattila, southern Finland. Unlike synthetic fertilizers, whose prices have surged due to global conflicts and instability, recycled alternatives offer a stable domestic supply.

“Biofertilizer from the Mäntsälä biogas plant contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and trace minerals,” Kyrö explains. “It’s a way to reduce dependence on imported products.”

Finland imports most of its 600,000 annual tons of synthetic fertilizers, leaving agriculture vulnerable to price shocks. Recycled fertilizers, derived from industrial side streams like animal manure or wastewater sludge, could theoretically meet up to 90% of the country’s phosphorus needs. However, cost remains a barrier—though the gap with synthetic options has narrowed slightly.

Sanna Tikander, a specialist at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, highlights Finland’s untapped potential: “We have vast amounts of nutrient-rich biomass that could be recycled more efficiently, reducing reliance on volatile imports.”

Kyrö, who farms both organic and conventional crops, notes that while nitrogen replacement is harder, on-farm nutrient cycling—such as growing nitrogen-fixing plants—could improve self-sufficiency. “Why mine more nutrients when we already have enough in circulation?” he asks.

Research at the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) aims to refine recycled fertilizers for better performance and affordability. “Price parity is key,” says research director Kimmo Rasa. “Economic incentives will drive adoption.”

A government roadmap, due in 2026, will assess nutrient recycling’s role in supply security and emissions reduction. For now, Kyrö relies on a mix of recycled and synthetic inputs, underscoring the transition’s gradual nature.