Proposals under this topic should:

• Demonstrate the technical validation and implementation of bio-based fertiliser production from nutrient-rich waste and side streams (such as agricultural/forest/aquatic residues and wastes, municipal waste, food waste, sludge, etc.), thereby reducing the environmental impact linked to the dispersion of nutrients.
• Develop and validate novel bio-based fertilisers, including biodegradable fertiliser coatings or other delivery system (if applicable), ensuring their agronomic efficiency, safety and sustainability with similar or improved properties compared to synthetic and mineral fertilisers.
• Contribute to the substitution of conventional, non-renewable fertilisers, thereby reducing the dependency and risks related to depletion, market volatility as well as import dependency.
• Address the product marketability and compliance with EU Regulation 2019/1009 to the largest possible extent.
• Optimise the costs of the value chain (including logistics) and circular approaches of waste and side streams and increase resource efficiency of the fertiliser production.
• Engage with primary producers and test the developed products on demo farms, including the machinery for application, and monitor the effects on soil health and quality. If applicable, connect and cooperate with existing living labs in the framework of the EU mission ‘A soil deal for Europe’.

Proposals are recommended to include a task to perform an assessment based on the safe-and- sustainable-by-design (SSbD) framework, developed by the European Commission, for assessing the safety and sustainability of chemicals and materials.