We are proud to share our latest publication under the ECOTWINS Horizon Project!

Our study explores the environmental impacts of composts, biofertilizers, and biostimulants in promoting sustainable agriculture and enhancing nutrient circularity. Using a life cycle assessment approach, we assessed products developed in Ukraine, Denmark, and Sweden, including vermicompost, insect frass, digestate, biochar, and fish hydrolysate.

What makes this research innovative?

This is one of the first comparative analyses evaluating these products based on their nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) content — a more functional and outcome-based metric for sustainable agricultural systems.

Key insights:

• Digestate demonstrates the lowest climate impact per tonne of nitrogen and potassium.
• Vermicompost performs best for phosphorus due to its naturally high content.
• Biochar consistently ranks as the least environmentally impactful across several indicators.
• Compost tea shows the highest water use and eutrophication potential.

This research provides valuable insights for policymakers and agricultural practitioners aiming to implement climate-smart, resource-efficient solutions.

🔗 Read the full paper here

Sincere thanks to our co-authors for their outstanding contributions: Ibtissam BOUHZAM, Ilija Sazdovski, Alba Bala, Pere Fullana i Palmer, Rita Puig, Oksana Tonkha, Bhim Bahadur Ghaley, Jean W H Yong, Ivã Guidini Lopes, SAAD MIR, Md. Nasir Hossain Sani, Tetiana Маievska

Sahar Azarkamand