Project

Enabling underused bio-waste feedstocks into safe and effective market-ready soil improvers.

Acronym
SOILUTIONS
Code
41G05623
Duration
01 June 2023 → 31 May 2026
Funding
European funding: framework programme
Promotor
Research disciplines
  • Engineering and technology
    • General chemical and biochemical engineering not elsewhere classified
Keywords
bio-waste
Other information
 
Project description

Soil degradation is considered a global emergency. 60-70% of EU soils are degraded due to unsustainable management practices.
SOILUTIONS aims to tackle this problem by building upon previous key EU projects involving key consortium partners and bringing them forward, the main ones being WaysTUP! (SAV-Coord., DRAXIS), VALUEWASTE (CETENMA-Coord., NURESYS, GAIKER and ENTOMO) and Scalibur (CSCP and G!E).
We will optimise four bio-waste valorisation routes (blood hydrolysate, frass, N-struvite, K-struvite) into advanced bio-waste soil improvers with the aim of enhancing nutrient recovery from bio-waste (e.g., N, P, K, organic matter)  thus reducing landfilling and incineration.
These valorisation routes will render a range of bio-waste feedstocks, that will be combined in different formulations together with key additives (e.g., Non-Microbial Plant Bioestimulants -NMPB-, Microbial Plant Bio stimulants -MPB- and Controlled Nutrient Release Coatings -CNRCS), into at least five bio-waste soil improvers. They will be co-created by working along with three Living Labs (in Flanders– Belgium, Valencia and Murcia–Spain), involving critical soil sector actors (companies and entrepreneurs, end-users, research centres, public bodies and civil society) to guarantee a good market fit of the developed soil improvers, coverage of sectorial needs and compliance with regulatory requirements (e.g., new Fertilising Products Regulation). Moreover, we will design an upscaling roadmap and a circular business model for each valorisation route to engage entrepreneurs and relevant soil companies to foster the commercialisation of advanced bio-waste soil improvers across the EU.
SOILUTIONS long-term impacts will contribute to reach targets of key EU policies and international commitments including the European Green Deal and UN Sustainable Development Goals 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15.

 
 
 
Disclaimer
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the authority can be held responsible for them.