Use of recycled phosphorus products in organic farming in EU member states: Theoretically supported but practically restricted
研究了欧盟有机农业中回收磷产品(如鸟粪石)的可用性和采纳障碍,发现政策、技术和金融因素共同影响其推广,对政策制定者和农业从业者具有参考价值。
Organic farming policies and guidelines actively promote sustainable farming practices emphasising tighter nutrient cycles on farms and regionally. The European Union Green Deal aims to increase organic farmland to 25% and has triggered more discussion about nutrient supply challenges in organic farming, including propositions to allow the use of more recycled phosphorus products. Via a pivotal regulatory shift, struvite was allowed for use in organic farming in 2023 but dynamics involved in adoption of this recycled P product into organic farming are not understood. This study explores the influence of policy, technology, and financial instruments on the availability, accessibility, and adoption of wastewater-based struvite in organic farming.We use a qualitative multi-methods approach and adopt a systems perspective to explore the complex interplay between key sectors and the important variables in the recycled P chain. Our analysis reveals a lack of perceived P supply risk for organic farming in the European Union. Whereas the organic farming regulation is an arbiter for inputs into organic farming, adoption of recycled P products by farmers hinges on rigorous quality assurance and financial accessibility. Moreover, there are opposing views among actors on forms of policy interventions to facilitate availability and adoption of recycled P products in organic farming. However, within existing policy frameworks leverage points are present for strategic pathways to promote recycled P use in organic farming.