NOVAFERT Wrap Up Final Event in Brussels, Advancing Sustainable Agriculture in Europe

Brussels hosted the joint final event of the European projects NOVAFERT and SEA2LAND on June 5th, 2025, at the SQUARE Brussels Meeting Centre and online. As an official event of the EU Green Week 2025, and supported by ESNI, the conference brought together experts, policymakers, and key stakeholders from across Europe to discuss the future of circular fertilisers and sustainable farming. With a strong focus on building trust in alternative fertilisers, the event emphasised the need to reuse secondary raw materials to improve soil health, reduce dependence on imported synthetic fertilisers, and close nutrient loops. These circular solutions are essential to meet the goals of the European Green Deal and move toward a more resilient and self-sufficient circular economy.

The full-day agenda featured plenary sessions, expert presentations, and parallel workshops addressing key topics such as:

• Agronomic performance of circular fertilisers

• Innovative production technologies

• Quality and safety assessment

• Market uptake strategies

• Emerging business models and regional success stories

A major highlight of the event was the policy debate on barriers and incentives for nutrient recycling, featuring representatives from DG GROW, DG AGRI, as well as from UGent and NEIKER—coordinators of NOVAFERT and SEA2LAND respectively—and NMI Agro. “Trust” emerged as a central theme: building confidence in alternative fertilisers is crucial for broader adoption. Speakers called for clear regulatory frameworks, harmonised rules, and stronger collaboration across sectors to boost innovation and overcome resistance.

NOVAFERT’s Key Contributions on Display

The NOVAFERT project showcased several major outcomes during the event, including:

• The NOVAFERT Atlas and two databases: one of key regional stakeholders and another of alternative fertilising products and production technologies.

• Development of an online course on sustainable nutrient management, including four main modules: technologies and products, agronomic performance, sustainability assessment, and legal framework.

• Development of Regional Specific Action Plans (RSAPs) across seven EU regions

• New methods for engaging local stakeholders

• Guidelines for communicating the environmental footprint of bio-based fertilisers

• Market insights and safety assessments

A Decisive Step Toward Circular Agriculture

The event served as a platform for knowledge exchange and coalition-building. The message was clear: to fully unlock the potential of circular fertilisers, Europe must:

• Strengthen collaboration between science, policy, and practice

• Understand regional needs and challenges

• Build trust in new products and processes

• Establish supportive policies and financing tools

This final event marked a decisive step toward a more sustainable farming model, with broad commitment across sectors to keep driving Europe toward a greener, circular agricultural future.