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      Unveiling the potential for an efficient use of nitrogen along the food supply and consumption chain

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          Abstract

          Ensuring global food security is one of the challenges of our society. Nitrogen availability is key for food production, while contributing to different environmental impacts. This paper aims firstly to assess nitrogen flows and to highlight hotspots of inefficient use of nitrogen along the European food chain, excluding primary production. Secondly, it aims to analyse the potential for reducing the identified inefficiencies and increase nitrogen circularity. A baseline and three scenarios-reflecting waste targets reported in EU legislation and technological improvements- are analysed. Results highlighted a potential to reduce reactive nitrogen emissions up to more than 45%. However, this would imply the conversion of reactive nitrogen in molecular nitrogen, such as urea, before re-entering in the food chain. Techniques to harvest reactive nitrogen directly from urine and wastewater are considered promising to increase nitrogen use efficiency along the food chain.

          Highlights

          • Nitrogen flows from post-farm gate to consumption in food system were investigated.

          • Only 45% of the nitrogen flows in the post-farm gate food system ends up as ingested N.

          • Emissions of reactive nitrogen can be reduced up to 70% in tested scenarios.

          • Tertiary wastewater treatment plants reduce reactive nitrogen emissions but not contribute to N circularity.

          • Nitrogen circularity can be increased with innovative techniques capturing reactive nitrogen.

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          Most cited references23

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          How a century of ammonia synthesis changed the world

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            The Characterization of Feces and Urine: A Review of the Literature to Inform Advanced Treatment Technology

            The safe disposal of human excreta is of paramount importance for the health and welfare of populations living in low income countries as well as the prevention of pollution to the surrounding environment. On-site sanitation (OSS) systems are the most numerous means of treating excreta in low income countries, these facilities aim at treating human waste at source and can provide a hygienic and affordable method of waste disposal. However, current OSS systems need improvement and require further research and development. Development of OSS facilities that treat excreta at, or close to, its source require knowledge of the waste stream entering the system. Data regarding the generation rate and the chemical and physical composition of fresh feces and urine was collected from the medical literature as well as the treatability sector. The data were summarized and statistical analysis was used to quantify the major factors that were a significant cause of variability. The impact of this data on biological processes, thermal processes, physical separators, and chemical processes was then assessed. Results showed that the median fecal wet mass production was 128 g/cap/day, with a median dry mass of 29 g/cap/day. Fecal output in healthy individuals was 1.20 defecations per 24 hr period and the main factor affecting fecal mass was the fiber intake of the population. Fecal wet mass values were increased by a factor of 2 in low income countries (high fiber intakes) in comparison to values found in high income countries (low fiber intakes). Feces had a median pH of 6.64 and were composed of 74.6% water. Bacterial biomass is the major component (25–54% of dry solids) of the organic fraction of the feces. Undigested carbohydrate, fiber, protein, and fat comprise the remainder and the amounts depend on diet and diarrhea prevalence in the population. The inorganic component of the feces is primarily undigested dietary elements that also depend on dietary supply. Median urine generation rates were 1.42 L/cap/day with a dry solids content of 59 g/cap/day. Variation in the volume and composition of urine is caused by differences in physical exertion, environmental conditions, as well as water, salt, and high protein intakes. Urine has a pH 6.2 and contains the largest fractions of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium released from the body. The urinary excretion of nitrogen was significant (10.98 g/cap/day) with urea the most predominant constituent making up over 50% of total organic solids. The dietary intake of food and fluid is the major cause of variation in both the fecal and urine composition and these variables should always be considered if the generation rate, physical, and chemical composition of feces and urine is to be accurately predicted.
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              Too much of a good thing.

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                Author and article information

                Contributors
                Journal
                Glob Food Sec
                Glob Food Sec
                Global Food Security
                Elsevier
                2211-9124
                1 June 2020
                June 2020
                : 25
                : 100368
                Affiliations
                [a ]European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Via E. Fermi, 2749, 21027, Ispra, VA, Italy
                [b ]Hamburg University of Technology, Institute of Wastewater Management and Water Protection, Bioresource Management Group, Eißendorfer Straße 42 (M), 21073, Hamburg, Germany
                Author notes
                []Corresponding author. serenella.sala@ 123456ec.europa.eu
                Article
                S2211-9124(20)30021-3 100368
                10.1016/j.gfs.2020.100368
                7299078
                5a9c85b4-c26f-4576-bc61-374ecb2510a0
                © 2020 The Authors

                This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

                History
                : 15 May 2019
                : 27 February 2020
                : 30 March 2020
                Categories
                Article

                nitrogen flows,food waste,mass balance,food system,sdg 12,nitrogen circularity

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