Interreg Central Baltic Sea Region Programme 2021–2027 priority "Improved environment and resource use" objective "Joint circular economy solutions" project From nutrient capture to forest vitality (Nutri2Forest) agreement No. CB1000689
Project partners are University of Turku (leading partner; project manager Veijo Pönni), Latvia University of Life Siences and Technologies, University of Latvia, Turku University of Applied Sciences and LSFRI 'Silava' (project coordinator Dagnija Lazdiņa).
Total project budget is EUR 1,415,157, incl. EU funding EUR 1,132,125, of which the LSFRI 'Silava' funding portion is EUR 139,732, and the total project budget for LSFRI 'Silava' is EUR 174,665.
Nutrient runoff, particularly phosphorus leakage from both agricultural and forest areas, is a common environmental challenge across Central Baltic countries. In forestry, phosphorus losses occur mainly on fertile, organic soils, where clear-cuts have taken place. In agriculture, nutrient-rich soils under intensive use also contribute to phosphorus runoff, especially where drainage and fertilization practices are not aligned with circular economy principles. The Nutri2Forest project pilots a nature-based, circular solution that recovers phosphorus from drainage water from agriculture and forestry before it enters natural water bodies. Modular filter systems with mineral-based sorbents will be installed in existing drainage systems, e.g., ditches and sedimentation basins, targeting to decreasing of both agricultural runoff and runoff from fertile, organic forest soils.