Surendra K Pradhan Researcher
University of Helsinki, Finland
Surendra Pradhan is a researcher at the University of Helsinki focusing on eco‑sanitation, circular economy solutions, WASH, food security, and nutrient recovery technologies. His work combines scientific innovation with practical waste‑management applications and includes international collaborations in Finland, Nepal, Ghana, and the USA to develop low‑cost, scalable treatment systems.
Articles written by Surendra K Pradhan
Turning human Urine Into fertilizer: Practical and Business Insights for food security.
47 10. April 2026
Human urine may be one of the world’s most overlooked resources. Every person produces about 500 liters of urine per year, and it's rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, the same nutrients found in chemical fertilizers farmers rely on to grow food. In fact, the nutrients from one person’s annual urine production can fertilize enough land to grow up to 270 kg of rice or 180 kg of wheat.
Despite its potential, urine recycling remains a rare practice globally. Why? Barriers like infrastructure gaps, technological hurdles, economic uncertainties, and social perceptions hold us back. But what if we could turn this "waste" into a circular economy, boosting sanitation, reducing pollution, and feeding communities, all at once?
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