INFEWS/T3: Advancing Technologies and Improving Communication of Urine-Derived Fertilizers for Food Production within a Risk-Based Framework

#1639244Nancy G.氮（N）和磷（P）是对可持续粮食生产至关重要的营养肥料。 在美国，绝大多数氮和磷以食物的形式进入城市，并作为废水处理厂的排放物离开。 这些排放物进入环境，可能导致有毒藻类大量繁殖、温室气体排放过量和"死区"。在周期的早期回收养分，并将其重新用作安全的肥料来支持粮食生产，将大大减少肥料生产所需的能源，并确保几代人的安全国内肥料来源。 该项目的重点是以一种新的方式应用经过验证的处理技术，将尿液中的营养物质回收并重新利用为肥料，同时降低与当今使用的传统肥料中存在的化学或生物污染物相关的风险。 这种方法减少了废水生产和肥料捕获之间的步骤。由于对尿液中营养物质再利用的看法可能是负面的，PI包括一个教育计划，将教育公众了解这种方法背后的科学。在人类占主导地位的环境中，绝大多数的N和P消费来自食物。 人们消费的食物中的营养物质最终会进入垃圾填埋场或废水排放。迫切需要回收这些营养素，并以节能和环保的方式将其重新定向以支持粮食生产。该项目将通过示范和部署通过尿液转移生产安全尿源肥料（UDF）的技术，促进美国节能的氮和磷回收。PI将使用基于数据、基于风险的方法评估UDF的安全性。 将进行涉及生菜、胡萝卜或干草生长的田间试验，以确定生物（病毒、细菌、抗生素抗性基因）或化学（重金属、微量有机物）污染物的命运。待评估的尿液处理方法是一系列技术的集合，这些技术能够有效地实现养分回收，减少肥料产品体积，提高产品美观性，并减少不良污染物。PI将通过作物田间试验扩展UDF产品的生成，并开展全面的监测活动，以支持风险评估。由于社会对使用UDF生产食品的态度可能是负面的，主要是由于缺乏与传统方法相关的风险信息，PI将整合评估和沟通计划，包括调查，焦点小组和教育材料的开发，以促进对这种方法的理解。这些方法旨在促进公众接受以尿液为中心的回收技术，以实现可持续的粮食生产和安全。 旨在提高公众对以尿液为中心的营养循环技术的理解的项目包括专业培训（学生暑期实习），学生和公众学习的独特论坛（开发基于案例的学习工具;新课程;并在密歇根大学植物园建造尿液转移和UDF处理设施，用于非粮食作物），和信息传播（每年的尿液转移和回收峰会以及国家会议的主题会议）。

#1639244Nancy G. LoveNitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are nutrient fertilizers that are critically important for sustained food production. In the US the vast majority of N and P enters cities in the form of food and leaves as emissions from wastewater treatment plants. These emissions enter into the environment and can cause toxic algal blooms, excessive greenhouse gas emissions, and "dead zones". Recovering nutrients at an earlier point in the cycle and repurposing them as safe fertilizers to support food production will significantly reduce the energy required for fertilizer production and ensure a safe, domestic fertilizer source for generations. This project focuses on applying proven treatment technologies in a new way to recover and repurpose nutrients from urine into fertilizer while reducing the risks associated with chemical or biological contaminants that exist in conventional fertilizers used today. This approach reduces the number of steps between wastewater production and fertilizer capture. Because perceptions toward nutrient reuse from urine could be negative, the PIs include an educational program will educate the public about the science behind the approach. The vast majority of N and P consumption in human-dominated environments is derived from food. Nutrients in food that are consumed by people ultimately end up in landfills or wastewater effluents. There is a critical need to recover these nutrients and redirect them to support food production in an energy efficient and environmentally favorable manner. This project will advance energy efficient N and P recovery in the US through demonstration and deployment of technologies that produce safe urine-derived fertilizers (UDFs) via urine diversion. The PIs will use a data-informed, risk-based approach to assess the safety of UDFs. Field trials involving the growth of lettuce, carrots or hay will be conducted to determine the fate of biological (viruses, bacteria, antibiotic resistance genes) or chemical (heavy metals, trace organic) contaminants. The urine processing methods to be evaluated are a collection of technologies that have the capacity to efficiently achieve nutrient recovery, reduce fertilizer product volume, improve product aesthetics, and reduce undesirable contaminants. The PIs will extend UDF product generation through crop field trials and conduct a comprehensive monitoring campaign in support of a risk assessment. Because social attitudes toward using UDF for food may be negative, mainly due to a lack of information about risks relative to conventional methods, the PIs will integrate an assessment and communication program that involves surveys, focus groups and the development of educational materials to advance understanding about this approach. These methods are intended to advance public acceptance of urine-centered recycling technologies for sustainable food production and security. Programs that will develop a higher level of public understanding about urine-centered nutrient recycling technologies include professional training (student summer internships), unique forums for student and public learning (development of case-based learning tools; a new course; and construction of a urine diversion and UDF-processing facility for application to non-food crop at the University of Michigan botanical gardens), and information dissemination (an annual Urine Diversion and Recycling Summit and themed sessions at national conferences).