Integration of revalued agrifood by-products in an improved circular economy model – new applications for vegetable and extensive crops in commercial installations
- Date: 01/01/2021 – 31/12/2023
- Project Manager at NEIKER: Santiago Larregla
- Total budget: 147,204 Euros
- Department: Vegetable Research
- Partners: ITACyL, CICYTEX, SERIDA, ASPA, UPVA, UIB, IRFAP, CIAPA-Marchamalo and NEIKER
The use of agrifood by-products as organic amendments (OA) in agriculture is of great interest. On the one hand, it is the correct way to benefit from a high proportion of organic matter to improve soil fertility in the widest sense (chemical, biological and physical properties). And on the other, it is an alternative to control crop diseases which are becoming more and more important in comparison to the chemical disinfestations of soil, which is more and more restricted by legislation due to the negative effects on human health and the environment.
Moreover, it is a rational waste management strategy with subsequent environmental benefits. A large number of OA with bio-fumigant effect have been tested to control nematodes, phytopathogenic fungi and crop weeds such as: cattle manure, paper and forestry industry waste, fishing and shellfishing industries, numerous agricultural by-products, food industries and others, likewise the waste of allelopathic vegetable compounds. Election of OA type and their application determine the efficacy of this practice requiring optimum combination of agroclimatic conditions, the pathogen to be controlled and crop needs.
Application of agrifood by-products as OA for biodisinfestation of vegetable and extensive crops has been demonstrated at laboratory level and on experimental crops; however, biodisinfestation needs testing on commercial installations. The general target of S4 is the application of agrifood by-products as OA for biodisinfestation and fertilisation of vegetable and extensive crops on a commercial farming level.
Project PID2019-106148RR-C44 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033:
