Phosphorus and energy flows through the food system of Brussels Capital Region

Abstract

Urban food systems are linear and wasteful. Strategies towards more circular food systems need to be adopted; however, what these strategies may be and what effects they may have on other urban systems is not well documented. With this study, we offer a systemic representation of the Brussels Capital Region food system through mapping its phosphorus and energy flows, and we evaluate the effect that three theoretical scenarios will have on these flows, and on the circularity level of the system. The results show that the Brussels food system is strongly linear and that no more than 2% of the incoming P can currently be reused within the city. Food waste valorization and sewage sludge utilization can increase the amount of P available for reuse without negatively affecting the net amount of electricity recovered. The amount of P available in the urban effluents can theoretically cover the demand for mineral P in the agricultural systems of the two neighboring Brabant provinces. The regulatory framework for the reuse of urban effluents is, however, hostile and it is still to be determined whether there is a demand for re-introducing these P flows in the agri-food system that feeds Brussels.

Framework for “Circularity by Design" D1.1

“…Urban food systems and infrastructures are linear by default, hence implementing CE to address agrifood system impacts is challenging as the options to close loops within the urban area are limited (Papangelou et al, 2020). Understanding how the urban metabolism is interconnected across spatial scales is fundamental to designing circular processes towards more sustainable agri-food systems.…”

Energy and material assessment of municipal sewage sludge applications under circular economy

“…The most common approach for assessment of SS treatment process under CE is Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) [21][22][23][24]. Material flow analysis (MFA) is considered to be reasonable for the assessment of WWTP under CE [25,26].…”

Circular economy monitoring – How to make it apt for biological cycles?

“…Without adequate measures to ensure nutrient cycling, shortages are created at the source of biomass, and nutrient excess in the ecosystems where the biomass is consumed or discharged(De Oliveira Garcia et al, 2018; European Environmental Agency, 2018). This is especially true in the case of agricultural systems where the urban areas are becoming concentrators of nutrients (Chowdhury et al, 2014;Kalmykova et al, 2012;Papangelou et al, 2020) and the rural soils are degrading and relying increasingly on synthetic fertilizers(Lathuillière et al, 2014). This disruption of the nutrient system is damaging at both places(Battye et al, 2017).…”