I en tid av klimatförändringar, övergödning och markförstöring står Östersjöregionen inför utmaningen att återställa och bibehålla näringsämnen. Östersjöns kustområde är rikt på biomassaresurser (alger, makrofyter, musselskal, så kallat beach wrack), som kan användas inom jordbruket för hållbar livsmedelsproduktion. I enlighet med principerna för den cirkulära ekonomin kan marina biomassaresurser fungera som både gödningsmedel och näringskällor för ytterligare återhämtning. Dessa lösningar förhindrar att näringsämnen sprids ut i miljön och blir förorenande. Näringsrik kustbiomassa kan också användas för att stabilisera sanddyner och förbättra den biologiska mångfalden.
Project owner: Klaipeda University
Project partners: Klaipeda University, Lithuania; Lithuanian Research Center for Agriculture and Forestry, Lithuania; Gdansk University of Technology, Poland; Hållbar Utveckling Skåne, Sweden; University of Rostock, Germany and University of Southern Denmark, Denmark.
Associated partners: Administration of Silale’s District Municipality (Lithuania), JSC Palanga communal utility (Lithuania), John Nurminen Foundation (Finland), Finnish Environment Institute (Finland), Regional Inspectorate for Environmental Protection in Gdansk (Poland) and En God Granne (Sweden).
Project duration: 1 st September, 2023 – 31 st August, 2026.
Project budget: EUR 1,473,550.00 (ERDF co-financing EUR 1,178,840.00).
Project no: STHB.02.03-IP.01-0004/23.
Funding: The project is co-financed by the EU European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under the 2021-2027 Interreg VI-A South Baltic cross-border cooperation program. More information here.
Head project manager:
Olga Anne
olga.anne@ku.lt
+370 616 15335
Swedish project manager:
Emma Ljungberg
emma.ljungberg@hutskane.se
tel: 073-140 88 98
The overarching goal of the ECONUT project is to design and develop technology for the nutrient flow cycle following the principles of the circular economy and sustainable soil and water management for a regional bioeconomy. The project aims to:
By the project’s conclusion, two developed technologies and three pilot cases will be realized. The project will evaluate the impact of beach wrack removal on soil fertility, slope stability, and biodiversity in the context of climate change. Additionally, a market analysis for the pilot technologies and the creation of business models for the developed technologies and added-value products will be undertaken.
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I. Preparation stage
The preparation stage involves the collection and processing of the bio-substrate (WP2). The project partners will identify areas with high biomass concentrations, develop beach wrack pre-treatment methods – biomass preparation for applications in agricultural and coastal dune areas by pilot cases implementation. Activities will include desk research, biomass samplings, their analysis, beach wrack pre-treatment, treated beach wrack preparation for technical and economic feasibility studies, grounding the dunes’ biodiversity development and their slope stability.
For the ECONUT pilot cases in Lithuania and Poland, beach wrack composting was selected as the preferred method. This environmentally friendly approach produces high-quality compost that is rich in organic matter, macroelements, and essential nutrients such as phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N). Additionally, it is free from toxic compounds, making it ideal for enriching soil.
II. Pilot cases
Pilot cases stage involves Added-Value Products and Nutrient Cycling Technologies Development (WP3). Three pilot cases will test the nutrient circular economy approach using marine biomass as an organic fertiliser and a dune stabiliser. This work includes developing new technologies, engaging local stakeholders and ensuring the sustainability of these solutions. Outputs will include methods to improve crop productivity, dune biodiversity and resilience to the coastal erosion.
III. Impact on Climate Change
The environmental and climate benefits of using a coastal zone marine biomass will be assessed. Laboratory experiments will measure greenhouse gas emissions from beach wrack and determine their impact on climate change mitigation at the coast. WP4 activities also include the development of a risk analysis tools to assess potential challenges and opportunities for scaling up nutrient recycling technologies.
IV. Market analysis and business model
Deliverables
Results & Deliverables will be contstantly updated.
Deliverable 2.1 | Nutrient cycling approach, methodology and work plan development | |
Deliverable 2.2 | Mapping of coastal zone areas of nutrient concentration and biomass sampling | |
Deliverable 2.3 | Analysis of methods for collection and treatment of bio-substrate |
Deliverable 3.1 | Pilot cases for development and installation nutrients’ cycling system description | |
Deliverable 3.2 | Creation of value added products | |
Deliverable 3.3 | Development of technologies of the nutrients’ flow’s circularity |
Deliverable 4.1 | Evaluation of climate benefits of beach wrack removal from the coast and its application for soil fertility, slope stability and biodiversity reviving | |
Deliverable 4.2 | Traditional and innovative nutrient circularity‘s footprint calculations and their comparison | |
Deliverable 4.3 | Developed the value-added products and nutrient cycling technologies’ end-of-life assessment |
Deliverable 5.1 | Market analyses for each of the pilot cases’ technologies developed in the project | |
Deliverable 5.2 | Business models for the business adoption of each of the pilot cases’ technologies | |
Deliverable 5.3 | Plans for the market launch of each of the pilot cases’ technologies |
Econut Press Release Lithuania
Can beach wrack located on the coast be used for our soil as an additive to fertilizers and also as part of a stabilizer to protect the dunes from destruction?
Please follow us on LinkedIn. Please get in contact with Emma Ljungberg if you have questions about the project.
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