Circular nutrients for a sustainable Baltic Sea Region
CiNURGi

Borgeby Fältdagar 2024: Exploring the Future of Farming with Circular Solutions

20 September 2024
Technical details

Borgeby, Sweden — June 2024: Borgeby Fältdagar is an annual outdoor agriculture fair that happens in the south of Sweden. It stands out for its focus on field demonstrations, hands-on trials, and innovations in crop production, making it a premier event for those specifically interested in practical, field-based farming solutions. The 2024 Borgeby Fältdagar brought together two days of insightful discussions, innovative technologies, and collaborative efforts focused on shaping the future of agriculture. Under the theme of “Future Farming,” the event attracted a diverse group of farmers, researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders from across Europe.

The CiNURGi project was represented by six employees from RISE (Research Institutes of Sweden) one from SLU (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences) and one from HS (Hushållningssällskapet), who shared their expertise, presented several types of organic fertilizers, and engaged with participants to explore sustainable solutions. The team also conducted a survey on fertilizer use, which will provide key insights for the project’s ongoing development.

A standout session was the seminar hosted by Erik Sindhöj, one of the project leaders for the EU Interreg BSR core project CiNURGi, titled “Fertilizers of the Future: How Do We Get Started with Circular Solutions?”

Key Insights from the CiNURGi Seminar:

  • Circular Fertilizers: CiNURGi highlighted the transformative potential of circular fertilizers—repurposing nutrient-rich biomass from agricultural, municipal, and industrial sources into safe, effective fertilizers. These alternatives offer a sustainable, resilient solution for future farming.
  • Sustainable Transition: The seminar explored the potential of locally produced fertilizers and the steps needed to transition away from traditional mineral fertilizers. The benefits and challenges of adopting these innovative solutions were discussed, along with examples of successful implementation.
  • Nutrient Recycling in Action: CiNURGi is building symbiotic relationships between companies to recycle nutrient-rich biomass into fertilizers. This approach not only reduces nutrient losses but also promotes the sustainable reuse of resources across sectors.
  • Collaboration as a Catalyst for Change: Collaboration was a central theme of the seminar. By working together, farmers, researchers, companies, and policymakers can:
    • Share knowledge and best practices to improve recycled nutrient effectiveness.
    • Standardize technologies and methods for nutrient recycling.
    • Develop supportive policies to drive circular solutions.
    • Build trust among stakeholders to promote recycled nutrients as viable alternatives to conventional fertilizers.

Fertilizer Use Survey to Inform Future Projects

In addition to showcasing a variety of organic fertilizers, the CiNURGi team conducted a survey on fertilizer use among attendees. The survey results will provide valuable insights into current farming practices, helping guide the project’s future developments in circular fertilizer solutions.

A Call for Collective Action

Participants were encouraged to adopt circular solutions, with CiNURGi emphasizing that widespread use requires not only technological advancements but also supportive policies and stakeholder confidence. The seminar demonstrated how partnerships can foster innovation and bring circular fertilizers into mainstream agriculture.

As Borgeby Fältdagar 2024 concluded, attendees left with a renewed sense of purpose and inspiration. With projects like CiNURGi leading the way, the future of farming is set to be more sustainable, innovative, and collaborative than ever before.