Paper Title
BARRIERS AND DRIVING FORCESFOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF WASTE-BASED FERTILISERS IN POLAND

Abstract
The growing global population is placing significant strain on various economic sectors, including agriculture. For this reason, there is a heightened focus on sustainable farming practices and the principles of a circular economy (CE), particularly regarding the use of fertilisers sourced from secondary materials. This approach aims to tackle environmental concerns while meeting the rising need for agricultural yield. Numerous initiatives are underway to promote a CE model, emphasisingthe importance of resource efficiency and environmental sustainability in agriculture.One such initiative that exemplifies these efforts is the Novafert project - Novel Procedures and Sustainable Guidelines to Enhance the Use of Alternative Fertilisers. Paper presents barriers and driving forces for the waste-based fertilisers in Polish agriculture. They were defined based on defined strengths, weaknesses, opportunitiesand threats (SWOT). The analysedwaste-based fertilisers included sewage sludge, animal manure and digestate. Strengths include reduced reliance on mineral fertilisers and environmental benefits. Weaknesses involve potential contaminants and logistical challenges. Opportunities include cost savings and soil improvement, while threats include regulatory hurdles and infrastructure investments. The presented strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threatsintegrate insights from the Regional Working Group (RWG) and stakeholders, aiming to promote sustainable agricultural practices and CE principles in Poland. The results of conduced analysis could provide insights for strategic decision-making and advocate for policy development that supports sustainable agricultural practices. The results add to the ongoing conversation on sustainable agriculture, presenting policymakers, farmers, and stakeholders with a comprehensive view of the advantages and obstacles linked to integrating waste-derived fertilisers into conventional agricultural systems.Further activities to promote waste-based fertilisers in Europe, including Poland, are planned for implementation in the Novafert project and other initiatives of the European Commission. Acknowledgments: Paper was prepared as part of the project "Novel Procedures and Sustainable Guidelines to Enhance the Use of Alternative Fertilisers (Novafert)” which received funding from European Union, project no.: 101060835. Keywords - Waste-Based Fertilisers; SWOT Analyses, Sustainable Agriculture, Circular Economy, CE