BioEcoSIM

An innovative bio-economy solution to valorise livestock manure into a range of stabilised soil improving materials for environmental sustainability and economic benefit for European agriculture

In the EU-funded project BioEcoSIM, involving 15 partners from four European countries, pig manure is used as a valuable source of raw material. Coordinated by the Fraunhofer IGB, the project aims to convert the constituents of the slurry into various fertilizers: biochar as a phosphorous-rich organic soil improver as well as mineral fertilizers such as ammonium sulphate, calcium phosphate and magnesium ammonium phosphate (struvite). The products can be mixed to a nutrient composition depending on the plant species and soil conditions, and used as easy-to-dose fertilizers for agricultural purposes. This not only prevents overfertilization but also reduces the need for synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, the production of which is highly energy-intensive. The overall process makes use of energy-efficient technologies and works on the principle of circular economy.

BioEcoSIM.

Project information

Project title

BioEcoSIM – An innovative bio-economy solution to valorise livestock manure into a range of stabilised soil improving materials for environmental sustainability and economic benefit for European agriculture

 

Project duration

October 1, 2012 – September 30, 2016

 

Coordinated by

  • Fraunhofer IGB

 

Project partners

  • Fraunhofer IGB (Germany)
  • Stichting Dienst Landbouwkundig Onderzoek (Netherlands)
  • Centre de Recerca i Innovació de Catalunya, SA (Spain)
  • Universität Hohenheim (Germany)
  • ITAGRA - Centro Tecnologico Agrario y Agroalimentario Asociacion (Spain)
  • Acondicionamiento Tarrasense Associacion Centro Tecnológico Leitat (Spain)
  • Biocompostajes Españoles SL (Spain)
  • DOFCO BV (Netherlands)
  • Yflow Sistemas Y desarroloos SL (Spain)
  • Initial Projects Limited (United Kingdom)
  • Geltz Umwelttechnologie GmbH (Germany)
  • Agro Energie Hohenlohe GmbH&Co (Germany)
  • ASB Grunland Helmut Aurenz GmbH (Germany)
  • Heckmann Maschinenbau und Verfahrenstechnik GmbH (Germany)
  • OWS Verwertungsmanagement GmbH (Germany)

Funding

The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement n° 308637.

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