Significance and Vision of Nutrient Recovery for Sustainable City Food Systems in Germany by 2050

Volkmar Keuter, Sebastian Deck, Heidi Giesenkamp, Denise Gonglach, Victor Takazi Katayama, Sica Liesegang, Finn Petersen, Sandra Schwindenhammer, Heidrun Steinmetz and Andreas Ulbrich
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Volkmar Keuter: Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technologies UMSICHT, 46047 Oberhausen, Germany
Sebastian Deck: Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Landscape Architecture, University of Applied Science Osnabrueck, 49090 Osnabrueck, Germany
Heidi Giesenkamp: Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Landscape Architecture, University of Applied Science Osnabrueck, 49090 Osnabrueck, Germany
Denise Gonglach: Department of Political Science, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35394 Giessen, Germany
Victor Takazi Katayama: Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technologies UMSICHT, 46047 Oberhausen, Germany
Sica Liesegang: Institute of Water Infrastructure Resources, Technical University Kaiserslautern, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
Finn Petersen: Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Landscape Architecture, University of Applied Science Osnabrueck, 49090 Osnabrueck, Germany
Sandra Schwindenhammer: Department of Political Science, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35394 Giessen, Germany
Heidrun Steinmetz: Institute of Water Infrastructure Resources, Technical University Kaiserslautern, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
Andreas Ulbrich: Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Landscape Architecture, University of Applied Science Osnabrueck, 49090 Osnabrueck, Germany

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 19, 1-23

Abstract: Within this paper, the authors explain their transdisciplinary vision of nutrient recovery for sustainable urban plant cultivation in Germany from different but complementary perspectives (SUSKULT vision). Nowadays, the demand for fresh, healthy, locally and sustainably produced food in German urban areas is constantly increasing. At the same time, current agricultural systems contribute significantly to exceeding the planetary boundaries. The disruption of the phosphorus and nitrogen cycles in particular stands out from the manifold effects of modern food production on the Earth system. One central issue that will have to be faced in the future is how increased yields in agriculture will be achieved with high-energy requirements in fertilizer production and pollution of water and soil by phosphorus and reactive nitrogen. City region food systems (CRFS) can be a solution to overcome these issues. Nevertheless, to ensure sustainable CRFS, innovative technologies and methods need to be developed, including nutrient and energy recovery and adapted horticultural cultivation methods that fit complex urban dynamics. Such new strategies need to be integrated in long-term social and political transformation processes to enhance acceptance of food produced by recyclates. The joint contribution of experts from the wastewater, horticultural, and political sciences, together with industrial and societal sector actors, is critical to reach these objectives. The overarching goal of SUSKULT’s vision is the establishment of the field of urban circular agricultural production as an innovative sector of the bio-based economy in Germany.

Keywords: CRFS; circular economy; transformation; nutrient recovery; treated wastewater; Germany (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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