Who Would Have Thought Urine Can be Useful

VIVA – The war between Russia and Ukraine has increased the risk of a worldwide hunger crisis. This war also pushed up the price of fertilizer. The existence of this pressure makes scientists think urine recycling could be a solution to help plants grow and strengthen food security.

People may not expect Battleboro, a city in the state of Vermont, United States (US), as the host of a pee competition. Every year, about 200 participants compete to collect the most urine to win the trophy. And, significant to fertilize the plants.

The tournament is organized by the Rich Earth Institute, a local non-profit organization that pasteurized donated urine and supplies it to agriculture for use as a substitute for synthetic fertilizers.

A known urine contains nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrients, all of which can make plants grow.

Urine recycling will be a program  which developed by the institution. For supporting the program, the institution has installed special toilets in most of the volunteers' homes, which can separate urine from its source. So, it can be pumped out and transported to where it is needed.

"(The volunteers) are very proud of what they are doing. They see it as another way to recycle," said Abraham Noe-Hays, director of research at the Rich Earth Institute, as quoted from the Deutsche Welle website on Monday, May 16, 2022.

Turning urine into fertilizer is unlimited to this community. Spin-off company Rich Earth is developing a system that can be used in buildings. So, it can extend the program to other places.

Furthermore, in countries such as Sweden, France, Germany, South Africa and Australia, other organizations are working to reuse human waste in an effort to reduce dependence on commercial fertilizers, which poses a range of environmental and economic challenges.

Synthetic nitrogen fertilizers pollute groundwater and are a significant driver of climate change. The production and use of such fertilizer’s accounts for 2.4 percent of global emissions, according to a 2021 study.