D1.6 Report on transformation pathways

The need for sustainability transformation in nutrient management is pressing, driven by ecological imperatives and social demands, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Common Agricultural Policy. The trans4num project seeks to address these needs by promoting a shift towards circular nutrient supply and management through naturebased solutions (NBS). This deliverable investigates possible transformation pathways and their influencing factors from a socio-ecological perspective, providing a foundation for how trans4num can foster this transformation. Despite the growing recognition of the need for sustainable nutrient management, there are significant barriers to achieving this transformation. These barriers include technical challenges, economic constraints, policy limitations, and social resistance. Additionally, the pathways to achieve such a transformation are often unclear, as they are complex and unpredictable, with various factors influencing the success of different approaches. Understanding these pathways and the factors that foster or hinder them is crucial for guiding effective interventions and achieving the desired sustainability outcomes.This deliverable aims to enhance our understanding of how trans4num can contribute to nutrient management transformation. The specific outputs of this task include: 1. Theoretical Grounding: Establishing a solid foundation in transformation literature to thoroughly understand nutrient management transformation and trans4num's role within this context.2. Analysis of Fostering and Hindering Factors: Identifying and analysing the factors that can either facilitate or impede the transformation of intensive farming towards sustainable practices, mainly focusing on nutrient management through NBS.3. Analysis of Transformation Pathways: Defining a trans4num way forward to contribute with NBS sites’ experimentation as basis to a nutrient management transformation. The methodological approach for this deliverable is informed by a comprehensive review of transformation and transformation pathway literature, encompassing both grey and scientific sources. This foundation enables a robust understanding of the processes and mechanisms of achieving nutrient management transformation. Additionally, a systematic review was conducted to identify fostering and hindering factors specific to sustainable agricultural transformation, ensuring a thorough and nuanced analysis. Finally, we integrated the principles for navigating complex transformations. This approach is incremental, adaptive, and iterative, ensuring the transformation process remains flexible and responsive to new knowledge and stakeholder input throughout the trans4num project. The trans4num consortium cross-checked the content of this deliverable during project events to ensure a common understanding. This deliverable is a critical component of the trans4num project, providing essential insights and frameworks that will guide the consortium's efforts towards fostering a sustainable and circular nutrient management transformation through NBS.