World News for Students of English

10-09-2025 07:00

Researchers in Europe are making new fertilizers from algae that grow on wastewater.

In France, farmers test algae powder made from dairy waste. The algae eat the organic matter, then become a powder rich in nitrogen. This powder, when mixed with mineral fertilizers, keeps the same crop yield but reduces mineral use by 25%. Algae powder is slower than normal fertilizer, so farmers need more planning and skill. But they can move it to other places and use it where sewage sludge is not allowed.

In Spain, scientists at a water plant in Ourense recover nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater and turn them into ammonium sulphate for farming. These new methods may cut pollution, save energy, and help Europe depend less on imports.

Difficult words: fertilizer (food for plants), nitrogen (gas in the air which plants need to grow), yield (food or products which a farm or factory produces), sewage sludge (thick, dirty water left after cleaning water from houses and factories).

You can watch the original video in the Level 3 section.