Defining nutrient co-location typologies for human-derived supply and crop demands to advance resource recovery
type: CreativeWork
description: 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.
abstract: 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.
author: Echevarria, Desarae Monique
language: en
keywords: Fertilizer, Co-location, Sanitation, Agriculture
date published: 2020-10-07T22:44:42Z
date modified: 2026-07-22T22:24:48Z
provider: University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/2142/108630