Modern agricultural practices separate crop cultivation from livestock farming. This separation breaks natural nutrient cycles, leading to environmental issues like nutrient pollution in livestock-heavy and soil degradation in crop-producing areas. To safeguard long-term food security and reduce environmental problems this must be addressed. Both scientists and the general public are increasingly supporting the idea of circularity in the food production system as a promising way to solve the current mismanagement.
This thesis analyzes nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and carbon flows in Cleves, a German district dominated by animal farming. Using scenario analysis and a participatory approach, the study combines scientific data with the practical, everyday knowledge of local stakeholders to find realistic solutions for restoring nutrient circularity.
The results indicate that locally reintegrating crop and animal farming shifts dependency from imported feed to chemical fertilizers. Successfully safeguarding long-term food security and reducing environmental problems requires a combined strategy that pairs reintegration with recycling innovations and a reduction in animal product consumption.