World News for Students of English

10-09-2025 07:00

Scientists in Europe are testing bio-based fertilizers made from algae grown on wastewater, showing they can cut mineral fertilizer use by 25% while keeping crop yields steady.

In France, algae are cultivated on dairy effluents, where they feed on organic matter. The algae are then dried into powder and spread on fields, providing nitrogen naturally. Trials on wheat show that algae alone cannot match mineral fertilizers, but when combined, they achieve the same results while reducing mineral input. Compared to mineral fertilizers, algae powder releases nutrients more slowly, requiring farmers to plan and use more expertise. Still, its transportability and potential in regions with restrictions on sewage sludge make it promising.

Projects such as WALNUT are testing these methods across Europe, including Spain’s advanced Ourense water plant. Here, researchers recover nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater, transforming them into usable fertilizers like ammonium sulphate. These innovations could reduce pollution, cut energy use, and strengthen Europe’s independence from imports.

Difficult words: effluent (waste liquid from factories or farms), expertise (special knowledge or skill in a subject), sewage sludge (thick, dirty water left after cleaning water from houses and factories).

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