Research Overview
STEPS research is organized by convergence themes, groupings in which researchers pursue closely related research questions, promote interactions on highly associated research activities, and drive overall forward momentum.
Convergence Themes
Convergence research themes accelerate sociotechnical transition pathways with the greatest potential to establish a sustainable, circular phosphorus bioeconomy. Each CT integrates research agendas to leverage interdisciplinary expertise, utilizing a multi-level perspective framework to establish, understand, and manage phosphorus-related technologies, actors, systems, and pressures.
CT 1 – Envisioning the future of food in the context of phosphorus sustainability addresses the critical gap in knowledge between the design and operation of the U.S. food supply system and the use and release of phosphorus. CT 1 links to CT 2 through the waste streams generated by the food system, e.g., food waste, and impacts the phosphorus-carbon-nitrogen nexus (CT 3) through agriculture, livestock, and waste management.
CT 2 – Transforming waste into phosphorus resources addresses phosphorus losses to the environment and advances the identification of sociotechnical transition pathways toward a circular phosphorus bioeconomy. CT 2 creates systems-level innovations through multi-faceted waste valorization by addressing barriers (i.e., socioeconomic barriers to waste transformation, key data gaps, phosphorus separation technologies) and identifying ‘phosphorus opportunity zones’.
CT 3 – Enhancing the sustainability and resilience of the phosphorus-nitrogen-carbon nexus focuses on the critical feedback loops that exist at the nexus of global phosphorus flows (e.g., food and waste), other elemental cycles (such as nitrogen and carbon), and the atmosphere to optimize water quality/quantity, energy, and carbon management. CT 3 fills key knowledge gaps related to co-occurring changes to phosphorus cycling, and explores technically feasible and socially beneficial phosphorus management interventions for mitigating both water quality and atmospheric impacts.
Supporting Activities
Externally-facing supporting activities to stimulate co-producing knowledge, outputs, and outcomes across STEPS: 1) lost phosphorus, 2) roadmapping, and 3) circular bioeconomy. These activities will facilitate the translation of scientific discoveries into action and span: 1) technologies and niche actors, 2) sociotechnical regimes, and 3) landscape-scale pressures.
Roadmapping evolution and implementation
The STEPS Roadmap Toward U.S. Phosphorus Sustainability, developed in 2023, identified relevant and impactful opportunities for research, development, and intervention based upon nine Impact Opportunities identified and vetted iteratively by stakeholders. The creation of a roadmap implementation timeline will consider currently available intervention practices and technologies, needed R&D, and their associated Technology Readiness Levels through iterative work with key stakeholder groups.
P Policy Forum
Researchers and key stakeholders will discuss technologies and strategies relevant to lost phosphorus and co-create recommendations for decision-makers to address this phosphorus across scales and the activities in each of the three CTs (fields (CT 1), landfills (CT 2), surface waters (CT 3), during a dynamic reception as part of the Phosphorus Policy Forum.
P and the Circular Bioeconomy Workshop
A workshop on Phosphorus and the Circular Bioeconomy in conjunction with the American Society of Agricultural & Biological Engineers (ASABE) Circular Bioeconomy Institute, to facilitate engagement with other researchers and stakeholders to advance the integration of phosphorus in circular bioeconomy innovations.