WP 2 will, through a common database, establish N and P budgets for all 105 major Baltic Sea river basins by calculating all net anthropogenic nutrient inputs (NANI) as a function of human needs and agricultural practices derived from detailed FAO food and feed statistics, fertilizer use and atmospheric deposition of N and P.

WP 3 quantifies changes at the farm scale in agriculture, both increasing production and implementations of measures aimed at reducing nutrient losses. This will be done using a combination of experimental data and a detailed dynamic model (DAISY).  

WP 4 focuses on a meso scale (<100-10000 km²) by modelling a number of type river basins using the spatially distributed SWAT model, taking into account dynamic nutrient loss processes including retention in soils, groundwater and surface waters and also addressing point sources.

WP 5 uses the knowledge gained from the farm and meso-scale level to improve the CSIM model that simulates simultaneously riverine nutrient fluxes from all 105 major river basins and communicate with the marine model within the decision support system NEST.

WP 6 addresses the nutrient reduction effectiveness and the potential of the various measures by constraining the nutrient retention of the various sources and is the main intellectual link between the economic and natural scientific models.

WP 7 deals with the first of three major issues of the economic part of RECOCA. Regional cost-minimization models are developed for type river basins in both new and old EU member states. These models will reflect the decision situtation relevant to the regional decision-maker. For certain river basins, regional cost-effectiveness models with a high spatial resolution will be developed, similar as it will be done by the natural scientific models in WP 3 and WP 4.

WP 8 focuses on the second issue by further developing the Baltic-wide cost minimization model (COST) within NEST, e.g. through integration of the regional cost models and the drainage basin model developed within this project.

WP 9 lastly concerns the country allocation scheme. The new Baltic-wide model will allow for economic analysis of the allocation of measures and abatement for regions and countries as well as for specific goals such as e.g. the Baltic Sea Environmental Action Plan (BSAP) and improvements in environmental indicators such as e.g. increased transparency and reductions of primary production. The new model will be more disaggregated, and new types of scenarios addressed, including uncertainty and importance of riverine loads on cost-functions.