Steinbeis experts contribute to the circular bioeconomy
Identifying profitable and environmentally friendly methods of reusing manure and digestate produced in farming – in ways that meet the practical needs of business – is as topical as ever. Agro Energie Hohenlohe was also trying to find a solution in this area, resulting in the construction of a plant for reusing agricultural residues in the region of Hohenlohe. The initiative formed part of a European innovation project called Agriplus: Efficiency Enhancement in Arable Farming in Hohenlohe based on Nutrient Recovery from Farm Manure and is being funded by the EU and the Baden-Wuerttemberg Ministry of Rural Affairs and Consumer Protection. Steinbeis 2i has been supporting and coordinating the project from the outset. Its role is to act as a communication channel and share results, and thus support the aims of the circular bioeconomy.
Spreading manure and digestate in farming is a common practice for supplying arable soil with valuable organic components and important nutrients. Identifying profitable and environmentally friendly methods of reusing manure and digestate produced in farming – in ways that meet the practical needs of business – is as topical as ever. Agro Energie Hohenlohe was also trying to find a solution in this area, resulting in the construction of a plant for reusing agricultural residues in the region of Hohenlohe. The initiative formed part of a European innovation project called Agriplus: Efficiency Enhancement in Arable Farming in Hohenlohe based on Nutrient Recovery from Farm Manure and is being funded by the EU and the Baden-Wuerttemberg Ministry of Rural Affairs and Consumer Protection. Steinbeis 2i has been supporting and coordinating the project from the outset. Its role is to act as a communication channel and share results, and thus support the aims of the circular bioeconomy. In areas heavily involved in livestock farming, as is the case in the Hohenlohe region, more manure and digestate is used than is actually needed to feed the soil. As a result, residuals (90% of which is water) have to be transported from the region to other regions with a higher demand for fertilizers, and this involves covering long distances. This is often a financial challenge for farmers and is not good for the environment. For example, nitrate leaches into the groundwater or nitrous oxide emissions are produced and these are harmful to the environment.
Improving nutrient management and the efficiency of arable farming
A plant for recovering energy from agricultural residues at Agro Energie Hohenlohe.
Agro Energie Hohenlohe decided to tackle this problem by initiating a project aimed at enhancing the efficiency of arable farming by improving nutrient management. Steinbeis 2i helped Agro Energie Hohenlohe submit a funding application to the regional government in Stuttgart in 2018. The application was approved. As part of the European Innovation Partnership for agricultural Productivity and Sustainability (EIP AGRI), between January 2019 and December 2021 the project is receiving funding worth €1.3 million through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Rural Affairs and Consumer Protection. Other partners involved in the project are Öko-Agrar Service, BAG Hohenlohe Raiffeisen, the University of Hohenheim, the farmers Kümmerer GbR, Neff KG, Karlheinz Neff, and Klaus u. Rosemarie Käppler GbR.
To convert manure and fermentation residues, an industrial-scale plant was built in Füssbach, Hohenlohe, making it possible to transform manure and other residues from energy recovery (digestate) into an organic soil conditioner, as well as phosphorus and nitrogen fertilizers. These innovative fertilizers can then be used to specifically improve the efficiency of farming, or they can be transported inexpensively to areas with nutrient deficiencies. Aside from offering technological benefits, the project partners are introducing logistical methods of manure transport and sharing different ways to produce and market end products. Scientific support for the project is being provided by the University of Hohenheim.
A plant used for the recovery of nutrients from digestate and manure at Agro Energie Hohenlohe in Füssbach
© Geltz Umwelttechnologie GmbH
In the summer of 2020, Peter Hauk, Baden-Wuerttemberg’s Minister for Rural Affairs and Consumer Protection, visited the plant in Füssbach and highlighted the importance of active nutrient management in agriculture: “The Agriplus project optimizes nutrient cycles between livestock farming and crop production. It’s a really smart approach with the potential to make a significant contribution to environmental protection and add more value in the region in keeping with the circular bioeconomy.”
Award-winning innovation
Ministerial Director Grit Puchan (left) presents a certificate for the Bioeconomy Innovation Award to Thomas Karle from Agro Energie Hohenlohe (right). Photo: Elke Lehnert
Extensive agricultural field trials have already shown that the effects of phosphorus fertilizers, nitrogen fertilizers, and organic soil conditioners made from manure and digestate are comparable with commercial fertilizers and humus-forming products. Further field testing will be conducted in the not-so-distant future in order to validate data and demonstrate the ongoing function of the system over several months.
In November 2020, the solution earned Agro Energie Hohenlohe an award under the first Baden-Wuerttemberg bioeconomy competition for new ideas. The prize was bestowed by the minister of agriculture, Peter Hauk. The competition honors innovation at all stages of the agricultural and forestry value chains. The five award winners were selected by a jury of experts from a variety of specialist disciplines. The winners each received a prize of €10,000.
The project illustrates how sustainable agriculture can be fostered in Baden-Wuerttemberg and exemplifies how nutrient cycles between livestock farming and arable farming can be merged. Agriplus is thus making an innovative contribution not only to environmental protection, but also to stronger value creation in the region in keeping with the principles of a cycle-oriented bioeconomy.
This project is receiving €1.3 million of funding from the European Union and the Baden-Wuerttemberg Ministry of Rural Affairs and Consumer Protection within the framework of the European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability (EIP-AGRI).
The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) invests in rural areas and receives co-funding from the State of Baden-Wuerttemberg.
European Commission – Rural Development 2014-2020:
http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/rural-development-2014-2020/index_de.htm
Contact
Dr. Jennifer Bilbao (author)
Project Manager Open Innovation und Key Enabling Technologies
Steinbeis 2i GmbH (Stuttgart)
www.steinbeis-europa.de
Regina Hüttner (author)
Project Consultant
Steinbeis 2i GmbH (Stuttgart)
www.steinbeis-europa.de