NutriReValorise

Funded by the UK Government with funding administered locally by Powys County Council

The Problem

The release of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphate into the environment can cause ecosystem damage. As a result, governments are imposing stricter limitations on where and how these nutrients can be used or released to the environment. Activities within urban and rural communities related to housing, waste and wastewater treatment, farming, industrial processing, and tourism are all having to adapt to tighter controls on nutrients. Nutrient excesses are placing limitations on the number of new urban developments that can take place in some communities even in rural areas.

Nutrients are also a major cost element in intensive agriculture, they require large energy inputs to manufacture or process and so have large climate change footprints. Phosphate is a finite resource with limited global supplies. There are therefore strong economic reasons to improve the way in which nitrogen and phosphate are managed across municipalities, agriculture and industry. Improved nutrient management is a key element of delivering a strong rural economy and community in the 21^st Century.

The Research

The University of South Wales has been awarded £248,868 through UK Government funding, as administered locally by Powys County Council. This funding is to deliver targeted collaborative research and development, knowledge sharing and dissemination activities associated with novel approaches to improve nutrient management in the rural economy.

The project, NutriReValorise, aims to:

• Contribute to the reduction of diffuse nutrient pollution (supporting environment / biodiversity improvements)

Develop novel sustainable value chains that will decarbonise, reduce emissions and increase revenue and employment opportunities.

The Partners

We will be working with GP Biotec Ltd on the recovery of nutrients from their anaerobic digestion process. This will allow the company to taylor how, when and where nutrients are returned to agricultural land. We will also be working with Crai Valley Eco Lodges Ltd to undertake early investigations of the recovery of nutrients from domestic effluents associated with the tourist industry.

The Collaborators

We aim to work with businesses and communities with Powys County Council related to nutrient recovery and use. The collaboration will contribute to enabling the growth of a sustainable farming, industrial and tourism sectors as well as facilitating residential developments for rural communities. If you would like to get in touch email to: enquiries@walesadcentre.org.uk