An optimization model minimizing costs of fertilizer application in Flemish horticulture

The majority of today’s fertilizers are based on mineral resources and fossil fuels. Among other factors, geopolitical sensitivities and rising fertilizer demand contribute to high and volatile prices. To reduce our dependency on non-renewable resources, valuable bio-based fertilizer components can be recovered through valorization of organic waste streams. However, from a farmer’s perspective, an optimization problem arises: the farmer wants to minimize costs while safeguarding crop nutrient uptake. Optimization research in the fertilizer domain focuses on scheduling fertilizer application or... Mehr ...