Phosphorus (P) is an essential element for sustaining human life, but its current management is unsustainable. Scientists are currently developing novel scientific and technological innovations to improve P management. By engaging stakeholders to understand their perceptions and concerns, researchers can address concerns and improve the chances that their innovations will be adopted. In this paper, we conducted thirty-seven interviews with U.S. stakeholders to develop three case studies of technologies in P recovery. The cases investigated are i) urine diversion for P recovery, ii) biological P removal from wastewater, and iii) analysis of stable isotopes for source tracking in natural water bodies. Stakeholders highlighted an array of economic, regulatory, and social barriers to adoption that were similar across all three cases. The findings presented in this study provide proof of concept for the efficacy of comparative methods to identify shared challenges in adoptions of new innovations within a research area.