REFERTIL

Improvement of comprehensive bio-waste transformation and nutrient recovery treatment processes for production of combined natural products

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The objective driven goal of this SME targeted project is to improve the currently used compost and biochar treatment systems, towards advanced, efficient and comprehensive bio-waste treatment and nutrient recovery process with zero emission performance. The improved output products are safe, economical, ecological and standardized compost and bio-char combined natural fertilizers and soil amendment agricultural products used by farmers. The added value and energy efficient transformation of urban organic waste, farm organic residues and food industrial by-product streams made by improved carbonization, biotechnological formulation and upgraded composting technologies, with particular attention to the recovery of nutrients, such as phosphorous and nitrogen. The targeted high quality output products aiming to reduce mineral fertilizers and intensive chemicals use in agriculture; enhancing the environmental, ecological and economical sustainability of food crop production; reducing the negative footprint of the cities and overall contributing to climate change mitigation. In this context the improved bio-waste treatment process opens new technical, economical, environmental and social improvement opportunities, while improving the use, effectiveness and safety of the resulting compost and bio-char products in agriculture. The output products developed in a standardized way to meet all industrial, agricultural and environmental norms and stands in European dimension. Proactive and coherently integrated cooperation made between multi level stakeholder in Europe, with result oriented potential benefit to SMEs and farmers for more efficient utilization of the final products by the end-users. The project is providing strong support for policy makers for the revision of relevant policies, while setting up future common bio-waste recycling targets, common quality standard requirements for bio-waste treatment, compost and bio-char quality and trading requirements.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

REFERTIL is providing both advanced science and industrial engineering to develop methods to convert organic waste and by-product streams into safe biochar and compost products. There is particular emphasis on recovery of important nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Current farming practices rely heavily on external inputs such as mineral fertilisers and chemicals to achieve intensive agricultural production. Agroecological farming methods that recover and recycle critical nutrients and bio-energy are attractive and safer alternatives in the face of growing global concern over imported fertilisers and chemicals used in food production.

The EU-funded http://www.refertil.info/ (REFERTIL) project aims to convert local organic waste and by-product streams into safe biochar and compost products produced under competitive market and economical conditions. These products are designed to be affordable, environmentally sustainable and in accordance with strong policy and food safety regulations as backed up by rigorous scientific and technical data from proven field demonstrations.

Progress thus far includes a guarantee of a high-level of protection for human health and the environment for added value recycling of organic waste and agricultural residues, including the organic phosphorus recovery case at economical industrial scale. This was achieved by meeting stringent requirements on the quality criteria and detailed analyses for compost and biochar feed material sustainability. Moreover, advanced technology developments towards zero emission production have ensured output product safety, efficiency and market competitiveness. All REFERTIL developed biochar products are high grade, fully quality controlled and completely safe products under any climatic and soil conditions.

Beyond the key enabling technology and product development, the REFERTIL applied science researchers and industrial engineers together developed an extensive regulation policy to accompany the biochar and compost. This aims to increase the confidence of farmers who are using it for food and feed production. In this context improved compost/biochar quality and safety criteria and standards have been developed and determined. A full industrial scale Animal Bone bioChar (ABC) phosphorus recovery and recycling plant with market competitive industrial manufacturing installation is ready for operation. The REFERTIL project has also provided market viability information and scientific data for setting up organic by-product and biowaste recycling targets, which supports policymakers in revising EU fertiliser regulations.

The results of the REFERTIL project have the potential to reduce by 20 % at EU scale the importation of phosphate mineral fertilisers thereby avoiding production of 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions in Europe. By providing a safe and affordable alternative, this contributes to reducing the EU's carbon footprint, the use of imported mineral fertiliser and chemicals, while improving food safety, supply security and expanding bio-based EU economy, particularly in the horticultural SME farming sector.