Horizon Europe Greenwood Project: Nutrient balance and resource optimization in regional ecosystems through a holistic, sustainable, and zero-pollution solution

The GREENHOOD project is pioneering a comprehensive approach to addressing the global challenge of unbalanced nutrient flows in regional ecosystems. Operating in four European countries and one partner region, GREENHOOD focuses on rebalancing nutrient flows and reducing N/P emissions through five key strategies:

• Participatory approach: Engaging diverse stakeholders through capacity building, governance labs, and interregional exchange activities to ensure inclusive decision-making.
• Estimating maximum allowable nutrient intakes: Using optimized budgeting methodologies, including new modeling tools and socioeconomic data, to assess the impacts of new balancing practices.
• Demonstration of effective nutrient management strategies: Leveraging knowledge gained from previous R&D to develop and demonstrate solutions for preventing, reducing, and recycling excess nutrients in key sectors such as agriculture, wastewater treatment, aquaculture, and forestry.
• Establishment of Regional Nutrient Circular Economy Schemes: Create schemes to close gaps in nutrient flows between sectors such as livestock and agriculture, and aquaculture, by assessing the agronomic performance and market acceptance of bio-based fertilizers and by-products.
• Innovative Governance Measures: Demonstrate governance measures to incentivize the adoption of nutrient-balancing solutions by collaborating with regional administrators and supporting existing policies. GREENHOOD also emphasizes the effective dissemination and leveraging of results through collaboration with strategic initiatives such as the CCRI and Mission projects, as well as through regional twinning programs. Through these efforts, GREENHOOD seeks to pave the way for societies to operate within safe ecological boundaries while meeting socioeconomic needs.