Nutri2Forest – From Nutrient Capture to Forest Vitality

We recover and recycle phosphorus from agricultural and forestry runoff

Duration of the project

1.4.2026 – 31.3.2029

Source of funding

Interreg Central Baltic

Total funding

1 415 157,32 €

Phosphorus runoff from agricultural and forested areas places a heavy burden on water bodies and accelerates eutrophication. In the Nutri2Forest project, we develop and test nature-based solutions that recover phosphorus from runoff water before it reaches rivers, lakes, and seas. The recovered phosphorus is reused, supporting nutrient circulation and reducing environmental pressure.

Nutrient runoff, particularly phosphorus from agricultural and forested areas, is a significant environmental challenge in the Central Baltic region. Phosphorus losses occur especially on nutrient-rich and organic soils and on clear-cut forest areas, and are intensified by climate change–related forest damage, logging activities, and conventional drainage practices. Intensified agriculture can also increase phosphorus loading when nutrient recycling is insufficient, contributing to the eutrophication of rivers, lakes, and coastal waters.

The Nutri2Forest project pilots a nature-based and circular solution that recovers phosphorus from agricultural and forestry drainage water before it reaches natural water bodies. Modular filter units using mineral-based sorbents are installed in existing drainage ditches and sedimentation systems to capture phosphorus efficiently. The solution is tested at four pilot sites in Finland and Latvia. After use, the phosphorus-rich filter material can be safely reused as a soil amendment in nutrient-poor or degraded forest soils, supporting nutrient recycling and reducing pressure on aquatic ecosystems.