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Beyond circularity! Integration of circularity, efficiency, and sufficiency for nutrient management in agri-food systems

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Abstract

Circularity is a new paradigm of nutrient management that seeks to mitigate environmental impacts of agriculture by reducing nutrient losses through reuse. However, circular nutrient management is not a goal in itself, but rather a means of transition to sustainable food systems. We argue for a conceptually stronger and more explicit combination of circularity strategies with efficiency and sufficiency. To this end, we combine these three transition strategies into a conceptual framework that accounts for the relationship between them. An example of regional N flows is used to quantify the systemic effects of each strategy. Results show that circularity does not affect overall system’s efficiency but reduces primarily inputs. Circularity can also lead to rebound effects if reused products have a lower efficiency than the products they replace. Targeting efficiency as a strategy has systemic, non-linear negative effects, as it reduces opportunities for implementation of circular solutions and reuse of nutrients. Sufficiency as a strategy can affect circularity, as a shift towards a more plant-based diet will likely increase nutrient use efficiency, and will therefore reduce the available recoverable nutrients and limit circularity. Moreover, circularity, efficiency and sufficiency as strategies may have different time frames that policy makers and practitioners need to consider in their implementation efforts. Finally, regional nutrient management should aim to combine the three strategies in modelling, planning and decision making.

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Notes

  1. Ignoring the use of virgin N outside the EU; Leip, A., Caldeira, C., Corrado, S., Hutchings, N.J., Lesschen, J.P., Schaap, M., de Vries, W., Westhoek, H. and van Grinsven, H.J.M. 2022. Halving nitrogen waste in the European Union food systems requires both dietary shifts and farm level actions. Global Food Security 35, 100,648.

  2. We refer here to system level NUE and not to the NUE of a arable production or a crop.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the contributions of the colleagues of the sustainable, air, energy and water technology research group of the University of Antwerp. Their critical views were invaluable to improving the manuscript.

Funding

The funding was supported by Horizon 2020 (Grant No. 792021), HORIZON EUROPE European Research Council (Grant No. 862849).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Group of Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology, Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium

    Marc Spiller, Ruben Vingerhoets, Siegfried E. Vlaeminck & Anastasia Papangelou

  2. Centre for Advanced Process Technology for Urban Resource Recovery (CAPTURE), Frieda Saeysstraat 1, 9052, Ghent, Belgium

    Marc Spiller & Siegfried E. Vlaeminck

  3. RE-SOURCE - Laboratory for Biobased Resource Recovery, Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Ruben Vingerhoets

  4. Sustainable Food Systems Research Centre, Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, Marie-Curie-Str. 1, 47533, Kleve, Germany

    Florian Wichern

  5. VITO NV, Wetenschapspark 1, 8400, Ostend, Belgium

    Marc Spiller

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  1. Marc Spiller
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  2. Ruben Vingerhoets
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Contributions

Marc Spiller - conceptualization, methodology, writing - original draft, writing - Review & Editing, Data curation, Visualization, Formal analysis Ruben Vingerhoets - Data curation, Writing - Review & Editing, Siegfried Vlaeminck - Review and Editing Florian Wichern - Conceptualization Anastasia Papangelou - Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Writing - original draft, Review and Editing

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Correspondence to Marc Spiller.

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Spiller, M., Vingerhoets, R., Vlaeminck, S.E. et al. Beyond circularity! Integration of circularity, efficiency, and sufficiency for nutrient management in agri-food systems. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-024-10339-8

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