NUTRIENT RECYCLING MARKET ANALYSIS

Global nutrient recycling market size is expected to be valued at US$ 4.98 Bn in 2023, and is expected to reach US$ 7.43 Bn by 2030, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.9% from 2023 to 2030

The nutrient recycling market refers to the industry and activities related to the recovery and reuse of nutrients from various waste streams such as wastewater, agricultural residues, and food waste.

Global Nutrient Recycling Market- Regional Insights

• North America: North America is the largest market for nutrient recycling that accounted for a share of over 35% in 2022. In North America, nutrient recycling initiatives have gained momentum due to concerns about water quality and nutrient pollution, particularly in regions with intensive agriculture and large livestock populations. The U.S. and Canada have implemented various programs and regulations to encourage nutrient recovery and recycling. Anaerobic digestion, composting, and nutrient recovery from wastewater treatment plants are among the commonly adopted technologies in this region.
• Europe: Europe is the second largest market for nutrient recycling that accounted for a share of over 20% in 2022. Europe has been at the at the forefront of food recycling efforts led by the EU and circular Economy Package and the Water Framework Directive. Several European countries have established comprehensive nutrient management strategies including nutrient recovery from agricultural residues, organic waste, and wastewater. Countries like the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany are leaders in nutrient recycling technologies and have implemented stringent regulations to address nutrient pollution and promote sustainable agriculture practices.
• Asia-Pacific: Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing market for nutrient recycling that accounted for a share of over 15% in 2022. Asia Pacific region has witnessed growing interest in nutrient recycling due to combination of factors such as increasing population, rapid urbanization, and concerns about water pollution. Countries like China, India, and Japan have implemented initiatives and policies to promote nutrient recycling practices. Anaerobic digestion and wastewater treatment plant upgrades are gaining traction in this region, particularly in areas with high agricultural and industrial activities.

Figure 1. Global Nutrient Recycling Market Share (%), By Region, 2022

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Global Nutrient Recycling Market- Drivers

• Environmental concerns: Growing concerns about nutrient pollution and its adverse impacts on water quality and ecosystems has boosted need for nutrient recycling. Excessive nutrient runoff from agricultural activities and wastewater discharges can lead to eutrophication, harmful algal blooms, and degradation of aquatic environments. Nutrient recycling offers a solution to mitigate these environmental issues by reducing nutrient losses and promoting sustainable nutrient management practices. For instance, in 2022, according to the U.S. National Science Foundation, previously frozen winter nutrient pollution, unlocked by rising winter temperatures and rainfall, is putting water quality at risk in 40% of the contiguous U.S., including more than 40 states.
• Regulatory frameworks: Government regulations and policies plays a crucial role in boosting adoption of nutrient recycling practices. For instance, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (U.S.DA) has a conservation practice standard for nutrient management that provides guidelines for using recycled products, such as compost, as a nutrient source on food crops or as food for humans or animals. The standard recommends ensuring that pathogen levels have been reduced before using recycled products in many countries and regions have implemented regulatory frameworks that aim to reduce nutrient pollution and promote sustainable agriculture. These regulations may include nutrient management plans, water quality standards, and incentives or subsidies for adopting nutrient recycling technologies.
• Sustainable agriculture: The global shift towards sustainable agricultural practices has boosted demand for nutrient recycling. Farmers are increasingly seeking alternative methods to enhance soil fertility and reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers. For instance, according to National Institute of Food and Agriculture sustainable agriculture, which explains that sustainable agricultural practices are intended to protect the environment, expand the Earth's natural resource base, and maintain and improve soil fertility. Nutrient recycling provides a circular approach to nutrient management, utilizing organic waste, agricultural residues, and wastewater to produce nutrient-rich fertilizers, reducing the dependence on non-renewable resources.
• Resource efficiency: Nutrient recycling contributes to resource efficiency by optimizing the use of nutrients, water, and energy. By recovering valuable nutrients from waste streams, it reduces the need for virgin resources and minimizes waste generation. Nutrient recycling processes such as anaerobic digestion can generate renewable energy in the form of biogas, providing an additional benefit in terms of energy sustainability.

Global Nutrient Recycling Market- Opportunities

• Expansion of regulatory support: Governments and regulatory bodies worldwide are increasingly recognizing the importance of nutrient recycling and implementing policies and incentives to support its adoption. For instance in 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized the importance of nutrient recycling and made efforts to reduce nutrient pollution in U.S. water bodies, and this presents an opportunity for businesses and organizations involved in nutrient recycling to leverage these regulatory frameworks and align their operations with the evolving environmental and agricultural regulations.
• Technological advancements and innovation: Global nutrient recycling market offers opportunities for technological advancements and innovation. For instance, The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had developed an interactive Recycling Infrastructure and Market Opportunities Map to support the national recycling strategy and the bipartisan infrastructure law. Continued research and development in nutrient recovery technologies, process optimization, and product development can lead to more efficient and cost-effective solutions. Innovations in nutrient sensing, monitoring, and precision application can also enhance nutrient management practices and create new market opportunities.
• Collaboration and partnerships: Collaboration among different stakeholders including waste management companies, agriculture organizations, technology providers, and research institutions can offer new opportunities in the nutrient recycling market. By forming strategic partnerships, sharing knowledge and resources, and developing integrated nutrient management solutions, stakeholders can create synergies and enhance the overall effectiveness of nutrient recycling initiatives.
• Market demand for sustainable and organic products: The growing consumer demand for sustainable and organic products provides an opportunity for the market. Organic farming relies on natural and sustainable nutrient sources, and thus, making recycled nutrient products for this market segment. Businesses involved in nutrient recycling can capitalize on the increasing demand for sustainable fertilizers, soil amendments, and organic food products.

Global Nutrient Recycling Market- Trends

• Growing emphasis on circular economy: The concept of the circular economy that aims to reduce waste and maximize resource efficiency is gaining traction in the global nutrient recycling market. Nutrient recycling aligns with the principles of the circular economy by recovering and reusing valuable nutrients from waste streams. This trend boosts adoption of nutrient recovery technologies and the development of closed-loop nutrient management systems. For instance in March 2022, The World Economic Forum outlined 21 ways to change how we consume, keep and discard things to help build a circular economy
• Integration of digital technologies: Digitalization and the integration of technologies such as sensors, data analytics, and automation are transforming nutrient recycling processes. These technologies enable real-time monitoring of nutrient levels, optimization of nutrient recovery processes, and precise nutrient application in agricultural settings. Digital solutions enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve the overall effectiveness of nutrient recycling practices. For instance, U.S. Agency for International Development's Digital Government initiative supports governments to use digital tools responsibly for coordinated, efficient, resilient, responsive, accountable, and transparent governance.
• Expansion of decentralized nutrient recycling systems: Traditional centralized nutrient recycling systems are being complemented by decentralized approaches. Decentralized systems, such as on-farm anaerobic digesters and small-scale composting units, offer localized nutrient recycling solutions and reduce transportation costs and environmental impacts. These systems cater to specific agricultural, industrial, or community needs and promote regional self-sufficiency in nutrient management. For instance in 2021, The Environmental Protection Agency published a report on alternative decentralized and centralized wastewater treatment technology
• Innovation in nutrient recovery technologies: There is ongoing innovation in nutrient recovery technologies, which leading to the development of more efficient and scalable solutions. For instance, in 2021, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a report titled "Innovative Nutrient Removal Technologies: Case Studies of Intensified or Enhanced Treatment" advances in anaerobic digestion, membrane filtration, and chemical precipitation techniques are improving nutrient recovery rates and the quality of recycled products. These innovations enhance the economic viability and environmental performance of nutrient recycling processes.

Global Nutrient Recycling Market- Restraints:-

• Lack of awareness and education: Limited awareness and understanding about benefits and potential of nutrient recycling can hamper the market growth. Many stakeholders including farmers, waste management entities, and policymakers, may not be fully aware of the economic and environmental advantages of nutrient recycling. Education and outreach efforts are crucial to increase awareness and promote the adoption of nutrient recycling practices. For instance according to a report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2021, food loss and waste in the United States embodies 170 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (million MTCO2e) greenhouse gas emissions each year, excluding landfill emissions. This is equal to the annual CO2 emissions of 42 coal-fired power plants
• Technological limitations: Despite ongoing advancements, there are still technological limitations and challenges in nutrient recovery processes. For instance, the efficient recovery of certain nutrients such as phosphorus from complex waste streams can be technically challenging. Improving the efficiency, scalability, and cost-effectiveness of nutrient recovery technologies is an ongoing area of research and development.
• Regulatory barriers: In some cases, regulatory frameworks and policies may not be aligned with the development and adoption of nutrient recycling practices. Ambiguous or stringent regulations can create barriers for businesses and organizations seeking to implement nutrient recycling solutions. Harmonizing regulations and creating supportive policy environments that encourage nutrient recycling can help overcome this restraint.
• Counterbalance: New global effort to improve nutrient use efficiency and reduce nutrient losses, providing the basis for a more circular economy that produces necessary inputs such as food or energy while decreasing environmental impact

Global Nutrient Recycling Market- Analyst Viewpoint

• Global nutrient recycling market is witnessing strong growth over the recent five years. Drivers include:  increasing concerns about pollution of water sources from excess fertilizer runoff. Nutrient recycling helps to address this issue by diverting nutrients from farms and other sources for reuse. Second, government regulations in several countries now require the reuse of nutrients from waste streams, promoting investment in recycling infrastructure.
• Technologies that enable the effective extraction and purification of nutrients like potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen from non-traditional waste sources present a significant growth opportunity. Livestock manure and food waste processing residues offer sizable untapped reserves. Companies developing innovative processing methods such as membrane filtration and chemical precipitation are witnessing profit. North America and Europe will continue dominating due to stringent environmental norms promoting recycling. However, Asia Pacific is primed to emerge as the fastest growing region with rising fertilizer demand from China and India coupled with growing awareness.
• While land constraints and collection challenges pose impediments, collaboration across the agricultural value chain could help to mitigate these restraints. Widespread adoption of precision agriculture and soil sensors also supports the business case by optimizing fertilizer use. Overall, the business looks like it will continue to grow due to necessity as "take-make-waste" linear techniques to obtaining nutrients become less and less viable. Advanced processing methods using cutting-edge waste streams will decide.

Global Nutrient Recycling Market- Recent Developments

New product launches

• Anuvia Plant Nutrients launched SymTRX, which is a high-efficiency, sustainable, and slow-release fertilizer product. SymTRX is derived from organic waste materials, and uses a patented technology to convert the waste into a nutrient-rich granule that releases nutrients slowly, providing long-lasting nourishment to crops.
• Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies launched Pearl 2000, a nutrient recovery and phosphorus management solution for municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants. The Pearl 2000 system recovers phosphorus and other nutrients from wastewater streams, converting them into a slow-release fertilizer called Crystal Green.
• BioHiTech Global launched Revolution Series Digesters, advanced aerobic digestion systems for organic waste management. These digesters use proprietary technology to convert organic waste into nutrient-rich compost, reducing waste volume, and promoting sustainable waste management practices.

Acquisition and partnerships

• Nutrient, one of the largest global providers of crop inputs and services, acquired Agrible, a digital agriculture company. This acquisition aimed to enhance Nutrien's data analytics capabilities for nutrient management and precision agriculture solutions.
• In 2023, GEA Group, a global engineering company, acquired DMT Environmental Technology, a leading provider of biogas upgrading and nutrient recovery technologies. This acquisition expanded GEA's portfolio of sustainable solutions, including nutrient recycling and biogas applications.
• Ostara partnered with DC Water, a water and wastewater utility in Washington, D.C. The partnership involved the implementation of nutrient recovery technologies at the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant located in Washington. This partnership demonstrated the potential for nutrient recovery from wastewater streams and the production of Crystal Green fertilizers.

Figure 2. Global Nutrient Recycling Market Share (%), By Type, 2022

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Top companies in Global Nutrient Recycling Market

• Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies Inc.
• Nutrient Recovery & Upcycling LLC
• Cambi AS
• AgriProtein Holdings Ltd.
• Anuvia Plant Nutrients
• Ostrevent
• Veolia
• BioHiTech Global Inc.
• DVO, Inc.
• AgriReNew, Inc.
• Smithfield Foods, Inc.
• Aqua Green
• Elemental Enzymes
• Suez
• Bioprocess Control

*Definition: Nutrient recycling is the process of recovering valuable nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium from various waste streams including wastewater, agricultural residues, and organic waste. These nutrients are then converted into usable products such as organic fertilizers or soil amendments to be reintroduced into agricultural or industrial systems, reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers and promoting sustainable nutrient management practices for enhanced environmental and agricultural sustainability.