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BESN – Universität Innsbruck

Energetic and material utilisation of agricultural bioresources (BESN)

Funding: INTERREG Programme Bavaria-Austria 2021-2027

Funding period: 01.05.2024 - 30.04.2027

Project description:

The climate crisis as well as energy and resource scarcity require a rethink in agriculture, especially in the foothills of the Alps, where a stronger rise in temperature and more frequent weather extremes are predicted. Organic waste materials from agriculture, such as slurry, manure, animal feed residues, green waste and residues from food production, such as whey, etc. are valuable resources. Sustainable utilisation of these residues can:

  • Transform agriculture into a circular economy,
  • Increase adaptability to climate change,
  • Promote resilient soils,
  • Reduce dependence on fossil energy and primary raw materials.

The pre-Alpine regions of Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Allgäu and Upper Bavaria have similar agricultural structures. Currently, liquid manure and crop residues are used as fertiliser, which causes problems for local residents, tourism businesses and, in particular, for soil and groundwater. The emissions from this conventional farming method must be reduced. In addition, climate change poses new challenges for agricultural soils.

Pilot projects in South Tyrol and Eastern Switzerland show that inter-farm bioresource management with joint utilisation of agricultural residues works well and contributes to resource-conserving, circular and climate-friendly agriculture.

The BESN project aims to utilise regional organic waste in community plants for biogas production. The fermentation residues produced are to be converted into a high-quality organic fertiliser. This can reduce dependence on energy and nutrient imports. The fertiliser produced specifically promotes humus formation and nutrient storage, which leads to an improvement in agricultural soils in terms of nutrient supply, drought resistance, compaction and carbon storage. The quality of the fertiliser produced can be further improved by adding additives such as biochar or wood ash.

The project addresses four main objectives:

  • Community utilisation of organic residues for more "resource synergy",
  • Building up humus as a "nutrient battery" and water reservoir,
  • Carbon fixation as a climate protection service,
  • energy production.

Project partners:

Contact:

University of Innsbruck
Dr Christian Ebner
Technikerstrasse 13
6020 Innsbruck
c.ebner@uibk.ac.at

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