Defining nutrient co-location typologies for human-derived supply and crop demands to advance resource recovery
Resource recovery from human excreta can advance circular economies while improving access to sanitation and renewable agricultural inputs. Proximity between human-derived nutrient supply and crop nutrient demands influence how nutrients are recovered in order to be a competitive alternative to synthetic fertilizers. For 107 countries, we analyze the co-location of human-derived nutrients and crop demands for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. To characterize co-location patterns, we fit data for each country to a generalized logistic function. We identified three typologies: (i) dislocated nutrient production and demand resulting from high density agriculture (with low population density) and nutrient islands (e.g., high density cities) requiring nutrient concentration and transport; (ii) co-located nutrient production and demand enabling local reuse; and (iii) countries spanning the continuum between these two extremes. Finally, we explored connections between these typologies and country-specific contextual characteristics via principal component analysis (PCA) and found the human development index (HDI) was a strong indicator of the country’s affiliated typology based on its nutrient landscape. By providing a generalizable, quantitative framework for characterizing the co-location of excreted nutrients and agricultural needs, these typologies can advance resource recovery by informing resource recovery strategies, investment, and enabling policies.
Fertilizer, Co-location, Sanitation, Agriculture
University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign