LEX4BIO

Optimising bio-based fertilisers in agriculture

 

Providing a knowledge basis for new policies

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 818309 (LEX4BIO). This output reflects only the author’s view and the European Union cannot be held responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.

LEX4BIO key results in a nutshell

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Optimising usage of bio-based fertilisers (BBFs)

Imported mineral phosphate and fossil energy-intensive nitrogen fertilisers cause major detrimental impacts on the environment, whilst nutrient-rich side-streams/organic waste remain under-used.

By optimising usage of bio-based fertilisers (BBF) from side-streams, ensuring their safety, building evidence-based trust in their usage and developing legislative framework for their use, it will be possible to reduce dependence upon mineral/fossil fertilisers, benefiting the environment and the EU’s economy.

LEX4BIO aims to achieve this goal by collecting and processing regional nutrient stock, flow, surplus and deficiency data, and reviewing and assessing the required technological solutions. Socioeconomic benefits and limitations to increase substitution of mineral fertiliser for BBFs will be analysed.

A key result of LEX4BIO will be a universal, science-based toolkit for optimising the use of BBFs in agriculture and to assess their environmental impact in terms of non-renewable energy use, greenhouse gas emissions and LCA impact. 

PROGRAMME

Horizon 2020 (H2020)

TYPE OF action

Research & Innovation Action (RIA)

duration

June 2019 – May 2023

consortium

21 partners in 14 European countries

call

CE-RUR-08-2018: Closing nutrient cycles

eu contribution

5 999 969 EUR

Lex4bio Overview 

Lex4bio goals in the EU agronomic context

Decrease European dependency on finite apatite-based phosphorus and energy-intensive mineral nitrogen  fertiliser

Our approach

A interdisciplinary and complementary approach, from BBBs identification to assessment, LCA and results’ diffusion 

Beyond Lex4bio

Ensure cross-cooperation & cross-dissemination with a network of EU major players, clusters & projects                         

Resulting in a new framework for BBFs acceptance

Provide  a policy framework for EU’s transition to BBFs, while minimising risks to the environment, ensuring food safety and supply, and protecting human health

Our Team

21 partners from 14 countries, covering Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Europe, securing evaluation of BBFs in all relevant climate conditions

News & Events

Learn about all the current and past activities of LEX4BIO, events, publications, National Dissemination Fora, and workshops

LEX4BIO JOINS FORCES WITH SISTER EU FUNDED PROJECTS TO PRESENT KEY RESULTS AT NUTRIENTS IN EUROPE RESEARCH MEETING (NERM) IN BRUSSELS

PROJECT’S FINAL CONFERENCE Nutrients in Europe Research Meeting (NERM), co-organized by ESPP, FERTIMANURE, LEX4BIO, RUSTICA, SEA2LAND and WALNUT projects funded under Horizon 2020 Programme (RUR-08), took place in Brussels on April 16 and 17, 2024 with the ambition to...

Lex4Bio project presented at the Phosphates Conference 2024, Poland

LEX4BIO partner Marzena Smol, Professor and Head of the Division of Biogenic Raw Materials, Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences, participated at the Phosphates Conference 2024 in Warsaw, Poland, from 26 to 28 February 2024....

MANURESOURCE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2024

International Conference on Manure Management and Valorisation It is with great excitement that we invite you to join LEX4BIO at ManuREsource International Conference on Manure Management and Valorisation 2024. During this first final that the project conducts in...

Exposure assessment of plastics, phthalate plasticizers and their transformation products in diverse bio-based fertilizers

Authors: Nicolas Estoppey a, Gabriela Castro b c, Gøril Aasen Slinde a, Caroline Berge Hansen a, Mari Engvig Løseth a, Katinka...

Lex4Bio partners presenting results at DeliSoil – EU Soil Mission, Denmark

Lex4bio Project partners Lars Stoumann Jensen and Lærke Wester Larsen from the University of Copenhagen enjoyed the opportunity to present project's results at DeliSoil - EU Soil Mission first Living Lab workshop in Denmark, held in the last week of January. Lærke...

Lex4Bio and ESNI co-organizing the “Quality and risk assessment of Biobased Fertilisers” webinar on Feb 15, 2024, online

LEX4BIO and ESNI Working Group on Agronomic Performance, BCE are pleased to invite all interested parties to join the webinar 'Quality and risk assessment of Biobased Fertilisers (BBFs)' on 15th of February, from 10:00 - 12:00 CET. The event will be held virtually and...

Lex4Bio results presented at the 3rd Summit of the Organic and Organo-Mineral Fertilisers Industry, SOFIE3, in Brussels

The 3rd Summit of the Organic and Organo-mineral Fertilisers Industry, SOFIE3 was held in Brussels, Belgium, 16 – 17 January 2024. The event was unanimously assessed by all participants as tremendous success, both as organization and value of knowledge...

Lex4Bio project results presented at the 4th International Conference “Strategies Toward Green Deal Implementation – Water, Raw Materials & Energy”

On December 14-15, 2023, LEX4BIO results were presented at the "4th International Conference “Strategies Toward Green Deal Implementation - Water, Raw Materials & Energy," organised by the Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute of the Polish Academy of...

Lex4bio in practice

The optimisation of BBFs’ efficiency and safety, legislation, trust building and widespread implementation of their usage resulting from LEX4BIO are expected to positively impact on the environment and economy by reducing dependence upon mineral/fossil fertilisers.

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Download our results and outcomes

Public outcomes provided by LEX4BIO partners through project implementation, Scientific Publications, Conference posters and Reports

Media corner

Communication kit – leaflet and brochure, Newsletters, Press Release 

“LEX4BIO supports the transition towards a circular economy by enhancing the use of nutrient-rich side-streams as BBFs. By optimising the use of fertilisers according to crop requirement, environmental impacts can be minimised and agriculture profitability improved”

— Kari Ylivainio, senior scientist from Luke & Project Coordinator

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