Pyrolysis technology offers a valuable solution for managing fish-processing waste, especially fish bones, creating high-value products that enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability. Through heating fish bones in an oxygen-free environment, pyrolysis produces biochar rich in essential minerals like calcium and phosphorous. This biochar not only improves soil structure, water retention, and nutrient availability but also serves as an effective soil amendment that can boost crop yields with fewer inputs like synthetic fertilizers. Additionally, it sequesters carbon, contributing to environmental sustainability by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
For practitioners, pyrolysis offers cost-effective waste management, turning farm residues into valuable soil amendments. This reduces reliance on synthetic inputs and provides a sustainable solution for boosting long-term productivity. With minimal investment and scalability options, farmers can integrate this technology into their daily operations, gaining both economic and environmental benefits.

Practical Recommendations
For optimal use, farmers can apply fish-bone biochar to soil as a natural source of calcium and phosphorous. Combining it with compost enhances nutrient availability, supporting better crop yields and soil health.
 

The DeliSoil project aims to convert food processing side streams into soil improvers and fertilisers. In order to achieve this goal, it is crucial to identify the status of side stream production and valorisation.

In Finland, the food industry is the fourth largest industrial sector. The food industry employs around 40 000 people, and in 2023 there were approximately 2 600 companies in the food and beverage industry. The food industry side streams in Finland correspond to a total of more than 400 000 tonnes of biomass from different food industries. The largest share of side streams is generated in the processing of dairy products. The meat, fish and vegetable processing industries also produce large amounts of by-products each year. However, it is important to note that the data on the production of side streams only include larger industrial actors, excluding small industries such as bakeries. 
Finland is characterised by long transport distances, which make it difficult to valorise side streams. Food industry side streams are often mixed with other waste, e.g. in anaerobic digestion plants. 

Practical Recommendations
Currently, the valorisation of food industry side streams into fertiliser products is mainly based on conventional processing technologies such as anaerobic digestion and composting. The majority of food industry side streams are currently used as value-added products, i.e. animal feed, fertilisers and soil improvers in agriculture and landscaping, but also as raw materials for other products.
However, there is still a need to develop the processing of side streams in Finland. There is a high potential for the production of value-added products through more innovative use of side streams to improve the recovery of organic matter and nutrients and their use in agriculture and food production.
 

DeliSoil project is designed to introduce innovative soil improvers by advancing the recycling and processing of food industry residue streams. To comprehend the roles of various stakeholders a comprehensive analysis was conducted. The results identified stakeholders essential for the project's success. The list of DeliSoil key stakeholder follows the Quadruple Helix Model, which provides a comprehensive lens through which to analyse and engage with stakeholders across multiple sectors and domains.
    Science: Scientists, research institutions, and projects from the Mission Soil group.
    Policy: Agriculture associations and policymakers at international, national, and regional levels.
    Industry and Producers: Soil amendments producers, fertiliser producers, waste management facilities, food and beverage producers, farmers, and horticulturists, agricultural advisors and EIP groups. 
    Civil Society: Local communities, citizens, and consumers.

Practical Recommendations
The stakeholder analysis presents several advantages. By identifying and engaging with key stakeholders, practitioners can enhance collaboration and the adoption of best practices. Understanding the influence and interests of different stakeholders allows for more strategic planning and resource allocation. Engaging with policymakers ensures compliance with regulations, securing necessary approvals and support, while insights from civil society stakeholders help in adapting products to meet market demands and societal values, thereby enhancing public trust and project legitimacy.
The comprehensive stakeholder analysis emphasises the importance of engaging with a diverse range of stakeholders. The inclusive approach ensures that the project remains resilient, innovative, and aligned with societal needs and regulatory requirements. This practice not only amplifies the project's impact but also contributes to broader environmental sustainability and agricultural resilience.
 

An analysis of the impact of different amendments on soil health and support biodiversity was carried out through a data mining approach and systematic analysis. The application of biochar, compost, and digestate and other soil improvers has demonstrated significant improvements in soil health metrics, crop yields, and environmental sustainability. 
1-Biochar: its application significantly alters soil chemical and physical properties, increase soil pH and soil organic carbon content, enhance water retention and nutrient holding capacity, promote microbial diversity and activity, which are vital for nutrient cycling and disease suppression in soil and can lead to improved plant health and resilience against pests and diseases.
2-Compost: its application is particularly effective in improving soil organic matter and soil structure, enhancing its water retention capacity, improving soil fertility by stabilizing its functionality and enhancing physical and chemical properties, increasing the amount of organic carbon and nitrogen in the soil, contributing to better plant nutrition and an increase in soil resilience and crop yields.
3-Digestate: its application provides a rapid influx of nutrients, particularly ammonium-N, which is immediately available for plant uptake, improve soil fertility by increasing the levels of both macro and micronutrients, provides an immediate nutrient boost to crops. While digestate is beneficial, its management requires careful consideration to avoid environmental issues. 
Practical Recommendations:  Long-term monitoring is crucial to evaluate the effects over multiple growing seasons, ensuring that adjustments can be made to optimize soil health and productivity. Strategies should be developed to minimize nutrient leaching and greenhouse gas emissions, ensuring that soil health improvements are sustainable over the long term. This approach helps to maximize benefits while minimizing potential adverse impacts on the environment.
 

Farmers and food industries can convert agricultural/food processing waste into bio-based fertilizers (BBFs) using various technologies. Key waste types include agricultural residues (plant clippings, manure), food processing by-products (bone grist, whey, fruit peels, etc.), and industrial waste like digestate.
Technologies for BBF production include:
•    Pyrolysis: Converts woody residues to biochar
•    Hydrothermal Carbonisation: Transforms wet waste into hydrochar 
•    Struvite Precipitation: Recovers phosphorus from liquid waste 
•    Fermentation: Processes food waste into bio-fertilizers 
•    Anaerobic Digestate Treatment with Algae: Produces algae-based fertilizers 
•    Membrane Filtration: Separates nutrients using filtration methods 
•    Mobile Digestate Processing Units: On-site digestate processing 
•    Enzymatic Hydrolysis: Breaks down protein-rich wastes 
•    Insect Cultivation: Uses organic residues to produce nutrient-rich frass

MAIN PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS: 
Classify Your Waste Stream: 
    Determine if waste is plant-based, animal-based, or industrial and analyze physical characteristics to match with suitable technologies. 
    Perform Chemical Analysis: Test for nutrient content and contaminants to ensure safety and effectiveness. 
    Select the Right Technology: Match waste characteristics with appropriate processing methods. Most technologies can be adapted to different waste types. 
    Optimize Environmental Impact: Use Product Environmental Footprint methodology to assess and minimize impact. 
    Assess Crop Impact: Monitor effects on crop yield, growth, and soil health through field trials. 
    Identify Business Opportunities: Evaluate economic potential, considering multiple markets (fertilizers, bio-stimulants, energy products). Analyze costs, revenues, and subsidies while supporting circular economy principles. More data is expected from ongoing projects.
 

Practical Recommendations
The analysis includes a review of relevant legislation, identification of best practices, and suggestions for improvements to foster a more supportive environment for circular innovations in soil management. The results and recommendations, expected to be ready in early 2025, will provide insights into how regulatory frameworks can be adjusted to better support the adoption of these technologies and practices. These insights will help inform policy makers on practical steps that can be taken to create a more favourable environment for the use of recycled soil amendments, considering existing barriers and challenges.

The expected added value for practitioners includes better guidance on navigating legislative barriers, understanding enabling policies, and ultimately supporting nutrient recycling and soil health improvements by using innovative technologies.

Practical Recommendations:
•    Start Planning Early: Ensure all logistical aspects, such as scheduling, invitations and reminders, are managed smoothly. This allows ample time to secure speakers, develop engaging content, and coordinate with the relevant project work packages.
•    Conduct a Thorough Stakeholder Analysis: Identify the key stakeholder groups relevant to the project's goals, such as farmers and industry representatives. Conduct a detailed analysis to understand their specific interests and needs, then reach out personally to ensure they feel valued and motivated to attend.
•    Co-Host with Related Projects: Partner with other projects that share common stakeholders to consolidate events. This approach amplifies impact, reduces stakeholder fatigue, and provides a richer, more varied experience for participants.
•    Curate Content to Match Stakeholder Interests: Tailor presentations and discussion topics to be relevant to the invited stakeholders. Engaging content that aligns with their priorities (e.g. practical applications, policy implications) will keep them interested and encourage active participation.
•    Incorporate Interactive Elements: To maintain engagement, integrate interactive tools such as Mentimeter surveys, breakout sessions, miro board working groups or Q&A segments throughout the event. 
•    Limit Event Duration and Focus on Key Topics: Aim for short interactive events, focusing on specific, high-interest topics identified through prior feedback. Shorter sessions with focused content keep participants engaged.
•    Follow Up Post-Event: Maximise impact by sending follow-up materials and feedback requests to participants. Post-event follow-up solidifies connections and encourages ongoing stakeholder interest.
•    Analyse and Apply Feedback Data: Data from tools like Mentimeter can be invaluable in shaping future project strategies and understanding stakeholder priorities, based on clustering the raw data input per stakeholder priorities.

• The event recording and presentation materials