Currently, Hungary is undergoing a rapid (re)industrialisation process, manifesting in the rise of lithium-ion battery manufacturing driven by the economic vision of the government. While framed as an important cornerstone of the energy transition towards decarbonisation, in reality this process deepens resource dependencies and results in spatially and socially uncontextual, unsustainable development - triggering what can be described as a battery manufacturing-induced crisis. The project focuses on North-East Hungary, which has become a key region in this phenomenon, bearing the disproportionate costs of a transition from which it gains minimal long-term benefits.

Therefore this thesis proposes a paradigm shift from transition to transformation, by addressing the research question: ‘How could the current battery crisis be leveraged to enable long-term spatial, transformative change in North-East Hungary?’ Grounded in theories of change and resilience thinking, the research aims to offer a long-term vision for the region that allows for transformability in moments of crisis, at the same time responding to the short-term impacts of unsustainable battery development patterns.

Using a multi-scalar lens, the study combines a territorial capital and a frequency of change analysis to identify static and dynamic regional elements and their transformative potential. Two future scenarios - based on the opposing transformability principles of efficiency and redundancy - are constructed and assessed through a value-based evaluation system. These inform a balanced, flexible long-term spatial framework and a set of transformation pathways that bridge immediate decisions regarding the battery industry with broader transformation goals. By proposing an engagement strategy and a new, landscape-based governance system as well, the project aims to call for action and serve as a catalyst for spatial imagination.

Ultimately, the thesis attempts to provide a future direction to an otherwise disadvantaged region, shifting the narrative of an unsustainable transition towards a flexible, circular, socially just and spatially integrated territorial transformation in North-East Hungary.

Nitrogen is an essential element of planetary life. Yet, human actions create such a surplus of its derivatives like ammonia (NH3) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) that the naturally occurring amounts doubled, causing a cascade of environmental and societal problems.
Our research studies dairy farming in North-West Europe with a focus on the Netherlands, as this industry is responsible for most nitrogen-related problems. The starting point of the project is the parliamentary letter ‘Nationaal Programma Landelijk Gebied’ (National Rural Area Program), which offers the alternatives of quitting, transforming or relocating dairy farms in areas where the nitrogen surplus exceeds critical loads. We reevaluated this approach using the methods of extreme scenarios, in-depth stakeholder analysis, as well as layering and clustering areas with high nitrogen deposition, pasture lands and socio-geopolitical issues. This led us to the realisation that a substantial spatial and societal transition is needed in order to reach balance again. The goal of this study is therefore to recalibrate the nitrogen cycle by radically changing current dairy production practices. We created a gradient from quitting to transforming farms and pastures, based on the theories of transitional landscapes and socially just transitions, resulting in a toolbox of eight strategic interventions, as well as a thorough policy framework. We choose a multi-scalar approach to test the new typologies, starting from the Netherlands, looking at the Groningen - Friesland - Drenthe region, further zooming in on the municipality of Ooststellingwerf, showing the phasing of the strategy from a human perspective. Essential lessons learned are the importance of collaboration on all scales, as well as the flexibility and openness towards change, whether it is technological or societal. Finally, based on these findings we extended our zoom to the scale of North-West Europe, giving suggestions to regions with similar problems.
This project describes a possible future based on our interpretation of the parliamentary letter, giving an intriguing input to decision makers on what their policies could mean, hoping to change the discourse regarding nitrogen, shifting its perception from pollution to a valuable resource. Welcome to Nitrotopia!