Sustainable Agriculture Solutions: A Step Toward Circular Economy Transition in Europe

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The ECOtwins research partnership is designed to enhance the research capabilities of the team at the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine (NUBiP). Its primary objective is to build a robust collaborative framework that facilitates the exchange of best practices and knowledge in agroecological intensification.

Through this partnership, the project aims to foster scientific excellence, promote innovation, and strengthen international cooperation by connecting researchers, institutions, and stakeholders engaged in sustainable agricultural development.

One of the key outcomes of this initiative is a fairly new scientific article in the journal Sustainable Production and Consumption that highlights the environmental impacts of various sustainable agricultural products.

The study was carried out by researchers at the UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change, including Dr. Sahar Azarkamand, Ilija Sazdovski, Dr. Alba Bala, and Dr. Pere Fullana-i-Palmer, as part of the ECOtwins H2020 project.

This research was conducted in collaboration with Dr. Ibtissam Bouhzam and Dr.Rita Puig at the Department of Industrial and Building Engineering at the University of Lleida, the NUBiP from Ukraine, the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences at the University of Copenhagen, the Department of Biosystems and Technology at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, and the FOREL Research and Production Centre in Ukraine.

This study assesses the environmental impacts of three composts, three biofertilizers, and two biostimulants produced in Ukraine, Denmark, and Sweden, using a life cycle assessment approach with functional units based on the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium content. The products analyzed include compost, vermicompost, insect frass, digestate, biochar, fish hydrolysate, and compost tea.

The results indicate that digestate is the most environmentally favorable option for reducing climate change impacts per tonne of nitrogen and potassium, while vermicompost is optimal for phosphorus due to its high content. Biochar stands out as the least impactful in terms of acidification, eutrophication, land use, and water use across all three nutrients. Low-biology compost, high-biology compost, and insect frass are environmentally friendly options, demonstrating low impact across all categories. Sensitivity analysis results highlight the impact of nitrogen and phosphorus mineral fertilizer equivalents on environmental outcomes. Significant changes were observed in land use, freshwater eutrophication, and acidification, while climate change and water-use impacts remained stable.

Additionally, the study highlights the importance of selecting the right products to improve sustainability in agriculture and minimize environmental impacts.

Scientific collaboration with Ukrainian institutes such as the NUBiP is essential for advancing sustainable agricultural practices across Europe and beyond. Ukraine’s vast agricultural sector, combined with its emerging expertise in agroecological intensification, offers a unique context for testing and refining innovative solutions.

Partnerships like those fostered through the ECOtwins project not only strengthen the scientific capacity of Ukrainian institutions but also enrich the global research community with region-specific knowledge and data. These collaborations enable the co-creation of contextually relevant strategies, foster mutual learning, and contribute to the resilience and sustainability of agricultural systems under increasing environmental pressures. By integrating Ukrainian research into broader European efforts, such initiatives promote inclusive progress towards sustainable food systems and reinforce the role of science as a bridge between nations.