USE OF AGRICULTURAL PARAFOLUTES IN ORGANIC FOOD PRODUCTION BY COMPOSTING – AgroWasteCompost

With the collaboration of the Subcontractor “Laboratory of Applied Microbiology & Biotechnology” of the Department of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology Genetics of the Democritus University of Thrace

The project

The disposal and management of agricultural waste and by-products from the food industry is a major problem today worldwide. According to recent European Union directives, agricultural waste may no longer be subjected to on-farm incineration processes, or transported to uncontrolled landfills or unauthorised landfills, disposal or treatment sites, as these sites may be a source of environmental pollution. In addition, there is a significant risk of toxic substances entering the food chain through the food chain to humans and living organisms.

One of the most economical and environmentally friendly solutions to address this problem is composting. Composting is the biological decomposition and stabilisation of organic materials either through microbial activity or through the metabolic activity of specific organisms (earthworms), resulting in a stable and odourless product that can be used as a soil conditioner (organic fertiliser). The process is characterised by low operating and investment costs compared to other technologies.

Therefore, the objective of the investment project is the development of innovative technologies for the utilisation of agricultural by-products (plant biomass) from wineries for the production of high value-added soil conditioners (organic fertiliser).

The project will test (a) microbial composting, (b) composting with earthworms(Eisenia fetida or Eisenia andrei), and (c) a combination of microbial composting and earthworm composting, applying the previously identified optimal conditions. In the composting processes and at regular intervals, important system parameters (productivity, temperature, pH, conductivity, oxygen concentration and moisture content), chemical composition of the products (C/N ratio, and levels of P, K, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn) will be determined, the activity of enzymes related to the metabolic activity of the microbial population (dehydrogenase) and the activity of earthworms (dehydrogenase, beta-glucosidase, acid phosphatase and urease), and the microbial load (determination of total mesophilic flora, yeasts/fungi, enterobacteria, coliforms, escherichia coli, clostridia, lactic bacteria, and Salmonellas spp.), which will also be confirmed by molecular methods (PCR-DGGE and/or Next Generation Sequencing, NGS). The next step will be to evaluate the efficacy and suitability of compost products (proof-of-concept study) by examining the germination of barley seeds after wetting with aqueous compost product extract, while compost products will be evaluated in vine growth and determining shoot growth and leaf dry weight.

The final stage of the project involves the preparation of a feasibility study, which will primarily involve the technological validation of the technology to be developed and will define the market to be addressed.

It is noted that the project provides for a series of dissemination, diffusion, promotion and exploitation of results and products.

Work Modules & Working Modules Deliverables

Work Module 1. Utilisation of agricultural by-products from wineries by microbial composting.

P1.1. Microbial composting system for plant by-products from wineries.

P1.2. Chemical composition of microbial composting products of plant by-products from wineries.

P1.3. Report on the results of enzyme activity and microbiological analyses of microbial composting products of winery wastewater.

Task 2. Utilization of agricultural by-products from wineries by composting with earthworms

P2.1. Composting system with earthworms of plant by-products from wineries.

P2.2. Chemical composition of earthworm composting products from winery by-products.

P2.3. Report on the results of enzyme activity and microbiological analyses of earthworm composting products of winery by-products.

Task 3. Utilization of agricultural by-products from wineries by a combination of microbial composting and earthworm composting.

P3.1. Combination system of microbial composting and earthworm composting of winery by-products.

P3.2. Chemical composition of products from the combination of microbial composting and earthworm composting of plant by-products from wineries.

P3.3. Report on the results of enzyme activity and microbiological analyses of the products of the combination of microbial composting and earthworm composting of plant by-products of wineries.

Task 4. Evaluation of the suitability of composting products ( proof–of–concept study).

P4.1. Composting product suitability assessment report.

Task 5. Conduct a feasibility study.

P5.1. Feasibility study.

Task 6. Outreach, dissemination and dissemination of results.

P6.1. Upgrade of the existing website.

P6.2 Dissemination of results (at least 1 communication in an international conference and/or submission of at least 1 publication in a peer-reviewed journal).

P6.3. Organisation of two workshops to present the project results.

P6.4. Presentation of results and products at an international trade fair.

SEE THE RESULTS OF THE PROJECT