Reflections from the FERTITEC Kick-Off in Thessaloniki, Greece

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On 27 January 2025, the city of Thessaloniki, Greece became the meeting point for a shared vision of sustainable agriculture. It was there that we officially launched FERTITEC, an EU-funded Coordination and Support Action (CSA) bringing together seven international partners across Europe and Africa to advance innovation in circular fertiliser systems.

Now, three months on, we take a moment to reflect—not just on what was initiated, but on what was truly begun: a collaborative journey grounded in mutual learning, technical exchange, and a commitment to transformation.

More Than a Meeting—A Foundation for Collaboration

The Kick-Off Meeting (KoM) in Thessaloniki marked the formal start of the project, but it also marked something deeper: the forging of partnerships that bring together policy and practice, science and systems thinking, and knowledge and local context.

Thessaloniki, with its rich cultural heritage and welcoming atmosphere, provided more than a backdrop. It reminded us that building sustainable futures requires not only innovation, but also dialogue—across cultures, across sectors, and through shared experience. From structured sessions to informal conversations over meals, the KoM laid the groundwork for a collaborative ethos that continues to shape how we work.

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Green Innovation at the Institute of Plant Nutrition, Resources, and Environment, Beijing

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Text and Photo: CM Cordeiro, EB Sindhøj © 2024

Nestled in the bustling city of Beijing is a beacon of agricultural innovation—the Institute of Plant Nutrition, Resources, and Environment, part of the prestigious Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences (BAAFS). During my recent visit, I discovered how this remarkable institution is shaping the future of sustainable agriculture, addressing challenges ranging from resource management to environmental conservation.

About the Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences

Founded in 1958, the Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences (BAAFS) has grown into a world-class research institution. With 1,230 employees, including 574 with senior professional titles and 558 with doctoral degrees, the academy is home to an impressive roster of talent. This includes one academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, five Beijing Scholars, and several nationally recognized young scholars. The academy encompasses 15 institutes and centers, covering agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and fishery. Its disciplines of ”Plant and Animal Science,” ”Agricultural Science,” and ”Environment and Ecology” have been ranked among the top 1% globally by the Essential Science Indicators (ESI).

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CiNURGi Seminar Highlights Key Discussions on Nutrient Cycling, Field Visit to HSY, and Resource Recovery

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A screencapture from LinkedIn from the EU Interreg BSR core project CiNURGi open webinar held on 18 Nov. 2024. 60 participants signed up for this event.
Text & Photo © CM Cordeiro & , E Sindhöj 2024



The recent CiNURGi open seminar at HELCOM – Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission, held on 18 November 2024, was a focal point for advancing nutrient cycling and resource recovery in the Baltic Sea Region. Part of a broader project meeting spanning three days in Helsinki, the event featured expert discussions, pilot project updates, and an insightful field study visit to Helsinki Region Environmental Services (HSY). Together, these activities showcased innovative approaches to sustainable waste and nutrient management.

Advancing Pilot Projects for Nutrient Utilization

During the seminar, CiNURGi leaders Erik Sindhöj and Cheryl Marie Cordeiro presented updates on pilot projects that address pressing challenges in biogas and nutrient utilization. These include advanced technologies for improving nutrient efficiency in digestate application, such as acidification techniques and weather-adaptive irrigation systems. The team also highlighted progress in urine separation and drying systems, which are currently being tested in Stockholm housing associations and the sports arena in Uppsala.

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Mission Soil Week 2024: Collaborative Solutions for Soil Health and Climate Adaptation

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At the EU Mission Soil Week 2024, Brussels, Belgium.
Text & Photo © CM Cordeiro 2024



European Mission Soil Week 2024 brought together policymakers, researchers, industry leaders, and community stakeholders to address the critical challenges of soil health, climate resilience, and sustainable land management. With 60–70% of EU soils classified as unhealthy, the event underscored the urgent need for innovative and collaborative approaches to reverse degradation trends and ensure a sustainable future. Continue reading ”Mission Soil Week 2024: Collaborative Solutions for Soil Health and Climate Adaptation” →

Visby: Bridging Heritage and Sustainability in the Baltic Sea Region

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At the EUSBSR Annual Forum 2024, Visby, Gotland, Sweden.
Text & Photo © CM Cordeiro & , E Sindhöj 2024

Visby, the historically rich capital of Gotland, Sweden, stands as a remarkable example of how heritage and sustainability can be harmoniously integrated [1]. My recent visit to attend the EUSBSR Annual Forum 2024 provided an opportunity not only to engage with leading experts on regional sustainability but also to observe firsthand how Visby balances its medieval heritage with contemporary environmental practices. This reflection captures the multifaceted approaches of Visby and Gotland to managing tourism, conserving biodiversity, and addressing water resilience.

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Showcasing CiNURGi at the EUSBSR Annual Forum 2024: Fostering a Circular Economy for Nutrients in the Baltic Sea Region

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At the EUSBSR Annual Forum 2024, Visby, Gotland, Sweden.
Text & Photo © CM Cordeiro & , E Sindhöj 2024

At the end of October, I had the opportunity to attend the 15th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) in Visby, Gotland. This year’s forum brought together over 500 stakeholders, including policymakers, industry representatives, and researchers, all focused on advancing the sustainability, resilience, and security of the Baltic Sea Region. Set against the historical backdrop of Visby, with its UNESCO-recognized medieval architecture, the forum provided both an inspiring and ideal setting for discussing sustainable regional development.

As co-lead for the EU Interreg BSR core project CiNURGi, my goal was to showcase our work on developing a circular economy for nutrients in the region. CiNURGi is an EU Interreg BSR core project dedicated to enhancing nutrient recovery from various resource streams, including agricultural, municipal, and industrial sources. By upgrading current infrastructure and technology, we aim to increase nutrient recovery efficiency and promote the adoption of recycled fertilizer products. In a region facing significant environmental challenges due to nutrient leakage and eutrophication, CiNURGi’s mission aligns well with the EUSBSR’s broader goals of sustainability and environmental protection.

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Insights from the 9th Nordic Biogas Conference 2024: Advancing Circular Economy and Nutrient Recovery

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At the ninth Nordic Biogas Conference (NBC), held October 22nd–23rd, 2024 in Aalborg, Denmark.
Text & Photo © CM Cordeiro & , JE Nilsson 2024

Reflecting on the Nordic Biogas Conference 2024: Championing Circular Economy and Nutrient Recovery

This past October, I had the privilege of participating as a plenary speaker at the Nordic Biogas Conference (NBC) 2024 in Aalborg, Denmark. The NBC is a key platform for knowledge exchange and networking among experts, innovators, and stakeholders in the biogas and circular economy sectors. Organized by leaders from the biogas industries of all five Nordic countries, NBC 2024 brought together a diverse group of professionals dedicated to advancing sustainable energy and waste management solutions.

A Focus on Circular Economy, Waste Management, and Nutrient Recovery

During the session, titled Circular Economy – Waste Management – Feedstock and Fertiliser Quality, moderated by Linn Andersson from Avfall Sverige, I presented insights from the EU Interreg BSR core project, CiNURGi, where we focus on nutrient recovery as a catalyst for sustainable synergies across various sectors in the Baltic Sea Region. My presentation, Circular Solutions for Nutrient Recovery: Building Sustainable Synergies Across Sectors in the Baltic Sea Region [PDF], highlighted innovative solutions for recycling nutrient-rich biomass, developing industry standards for safe fertilizers, and fostering cross-sector collaborations. These approaches are essential for creating resilient, circular systems that reduce environmental impact while opening new economic opportunities.

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A Walkabout at Borgeby Fältdagar 2024

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Text & Photo © CM Cordeiro & JE Nilsson 2024

 

What an incredible experience at Borgeby Fältdagar 2024! On one of the warmest summer days in southern Sweden, this arena welcomed 19,900 visitors and 415 exhibiting companies. This event was the perfect mix of business networking and family fun! The two-day program was packed with fascinating seminars and cutting-edge technology showcases.

Here are the top three seminar topics I found most interesting:

  1. Technology You Didn’t Know Existed – Can It Revolutionize Future Agriculture?
    • Details: Karolina Muhrman and Per Frankelius from Agtech Sweden blew us away with groundbreaking technologies like precision agriculture tools, autonomous machinery, and advanced data analytics. These innovations can make farming more productive and sustainable. It was especially inspiring to see how regions like Östergötland, which attract global investments in agtech and foster close collaboration between research institutions and industry, are leading the way. The area’s strengths in innovation, technology, and sustainable development make it a hotbed for agricultural innovation.
  2. Inflation is Receding – Here Come the Interest Rate Cuts
    • Details: Anders Hansson from Sparbanken Skåne and Swedbank shed light on the upcoming economic shifts, emphasizing that with inflation receding, we can expect interest rate cuts. This is fantastic news for farmers, as lower borrowing costs will make it easier to invest in new technologies and infrastructure. It’s a much-needed boost that could significantly ease financial pressures on the agricultural sector.
  3. Sustainable Solutions for Future Agriculture: Circular Fertilizers
    • Details: The seminar for the EU Interreg Baltic Sea Region (BSR) core project CiNURGi by  RISE Food and Agriculture, was all about moving towards circular fertilizers. They highlighted how using local, sustainable fertilization methods can improve soil health and reduce our reliance on conventional mineral fertilizers. This is a crucial step towards building a more resilient and eco-friendly farming system.

Borgeby Fältdagar 2024 not only showcased the latest in agricultural technology but also provided valuable insights into the economic trends affecting our sector. The integration of these technologies is expected to drive efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and enhance the overall profitability of farming operations. Continue reading ”A Walkabout at Borgeby Fältdagar 2024” →

HCII 2023 Copenhagen, Denmark, July 23–28
Communicating Sustainability Online: A Soft Systems Methodology and Corpus Linguistics Approach in the Example of Norwegian Seafood Companies

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Human Computer Interaction (HCI) in Business, Government and Organizations, 10th International Conference, HCIBGO 2023, Held as Part of the 25th HCI International Conference, HCI International 2023, Copenhagen, Denmark, July 23–28, 2023, Proceedings, Part II Conference proceedings 2023.

Abstract

This article presents a qualitative case study of the Norwegian seafood industry’s sustainability communication on corporate websites. The research questions focused on how sustainability is communicated, and the communication channels employed by Norwegian seafood companies. The study found that sustainability is communicated through ecological certification, awareness towards the environment and social compliance, and engagement in knowledge exchange. The study highlights the need to create standardized language and a coherent discourse for competitive advantages in ecologically value-added products and digital services. Companies can use underutilized digital resources such as podcasts and direct online sales to consumers to improve stakeholder engagement. The study suggests the direct and active involvement of consumers in designing products that consumers desire, which can increase market share for the Norwegian seafood industry. The limitations of the study are the lack of feedback from small to medium-sized companies, limiting the generalizability of the findings. The study recommends that the Norwegian seafood industry supports developing digital service resources for small and medium-sized companies to remain competitive in the long term.

Keywords

sustainability, corporate online communication, seafood, soft systems methodology, corpus linguistics

Cite as:
Lindström, N.B., Cordeiro, C.M. (2023). Communicating Sustainability Online: A Soft Systems Methodology and Corpus Linguistics Approach in the Example of Norwegian Seafood Companies. In: Nah, F., Siau, K. (eds) HCI in Business, Government and Organizations. HCII 2023. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 14039. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-36049-7_25

Vertical farms and the complex relationships between energy use in food systems, food production and energy resource constraints

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From 2016, standing in a group discussion with Jack Ng, who is an engineer, and the Founder of Sky Greens Singapore. Sky Greens was founded in 2012.
Text & Photo © JE Nilsson & CM Cordeiro 2021

The current Horizon Europe Work Programme 2021-2022 for Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment [1] acknowledges a need to address the complex relationships between energy use in food systems, food system productivity and energy resource constraints. Product type, mode of transport, food waste, energy-related food system greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and energy efficiencies in geographies of production along with economies of scale are some of the interacting variables in the food-energy network [2,3]

In Sweden, about 26% of the greenhouse gases emitted come from agricultural activities [2]. Traditional farming practices and food production techniques concurrent with urbanization and globalization are energy intensive. With concurrent urbanization, globalization and changes in demography, the importance of energy use in food systems has become a global food security concern [3], particularly when some studies have shown that crop yields increase in close association with energy inputs [4].

The European regional concerns reminded me of a visit to Sky Greens in Singapore in 2016. I was in Singapore to attend the Responsible Business Forum conference held at Marina Bay Sands, and I had the opportunity too at the time, to visit the world´s first low carbon, hydraulic driven vertical vegetable farm and meet its Founder, Jack Ng.

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