NSF INFEWS Workshop

 

Phosphorus Resource Management and Sustainability for Food, Water, and Energy Systems

                

 

Workshop Purpose:

•Research project team led out of the University of Arkansas is working on energy-efficient engineering approach to recovery of magnesium ammonium phosphate (struvite) from municipal wastewater

•Engineering goal is to be able to recover and recycle phosphorus and nitrogen from wastewater as a useful fertilizer product

•Team aims to connect engineering research with agronomy, economics, and life cycle analysis

•Broader goal of the research project is to engage our regional community and understand from a range of stakeholders what the challenges and issues are with regard to phosphorus (and nitrogen) resource management

•Our plan is to start with a broad scope workshop to frame our understanding of perspectives and issues, as well as to frame our research

 

Workshop Objectives:

Year 1: Broad focus to enable information gathering and identification of challenges

Goals:

•Bring together regional stakeholders involved in industries and activities that rely on phosphorus as a critical resource

•Understand the benefits and challenges to the use of phosphorus in the food supply chain

•Understand impacts of phosphorus cycle on wastewater production, environmental health, energy demand, and agricultural sustainability

•Identify and discuss key challenges, complex issues, opportunities, and open questions

Expected Outcome: Workshop Report and Roadmap document that identifies key regional and national needs and challenges

Years 2-4 and beyond: Topical, focused workshops will be selected based on initial outcomes of Year 1 workshop

 

 

"Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation."