NuRe, Nutrient Recovery Innovation

Rookwood Operations Ltd, based in the UK, has developed a process using a natural material that helps address two major environmental challenges: phosphorus pollution in water and the overuse of non-renewable fertiliser in agriculture. The process, known as nuRe®, focuses on a circular and sustainable methodology, encompassing Rookwood’s innovative phosphorus recovery material, known as PRM®, engineered hardware and supporting software.

PRM® removes excess phosphorus from wastewater and polluted water bodies. It captures the nutrient in a form that can be reused on farmland, closing the loop between agriculture and the environment. This offers a sustainable alternative to mined phosphate, which is non-renewable and energy-intensive to produce.

Phosphorus is essential for plant growth, but when it escapes from fertilisers into rivers and lakes, it can damage ecosystems by fuelling algal blooms. By recovering phosphorus from waste streams and returning it to land as a soil additive, nuRe® supports both cleaner waterways and more efficient food production.

PRM® material is produced using agricultural by-products in a low-impact process involving a biochar reactor, making it cost-effective and scalable. It can be deployed in a range of settings, from small farms to larger water treatment operations.

Unlike conventional filtration or chemical removal methods, Rookwood’s approach is circular. It treats phosphorus not as waste, but as a resource to be reused. This method reduces pollution, supports soil health, and lowers reliance on chemical fertilisers, issues that are increasingly important given rising fertiliser prices and global food security concerns.

nuRe® and PRM® were developed by Rookwood’s founders, Jane Pearce, Josh Hares and Liam Pearce, who are focused on finding practical, sustainable solutions for agriculture and the environment. Their innovation is already showing promise as a way to make farming more sustainable while helping to restore balance in our natural ecosystems.

A quote from Jane Pearce (CEO Rookwood Operations Ltd):

“The concept of nuRe® is simple: recovery and reuse of finite natural resources. Using our innovative material PRM® we remove phosphates from where they are causing problems and reuse them on land where they’re required. We are excited and honoured to have been nominated for the Earthshot Prize 2025 and are looking forward to expanding the reach of nuRe® and bringing phosphate levels back toward the planetary boundary. Jane Pearce, CEO, Rookwood Operations Ltd.”

A quote from Jess O’Kane, patent attorney, Sirius IP:

“We are proud to work with  Rookwood Operations Ltd to help protect their innovative nuRe® concept and materials, and excited for their award nomination which will be important as the company continues to scale-up its operations.”