Objectives

The main objective is to improve nutrient management and reduce the environmental impact of animal farming by demonstrating the feasibility of an innovative nitrogen and phosphorous recovery technology based on duckweed (aquatic plant*) production system for the sustainable treatment of anaerobically digested manure. In the proposed system, duckweed biomass is further processed to obtain new (bio)based products for local consumption, mainly biofertilisers and feed, within a circular and more sustainable animal production system.

The project tackle a main EU environmental problem existing in most countries which is polluted water bodies by surpluses of manure nutrients in animal farming areas causing eutrophication and other negative impacts. It will contribute to achieve the WFD and Nitrate Directive objectives and develop other related EU legislation and policies in areas like climate change, or air and soil quality. The project also tackles resource efficiency, scarcity of phosphorous, and the high environmental impact associated to animal protein production in comparison with vegetable protein.

Specific objectives are listed below:

O1. To reduce manure nutrient pollution of water bodies in farming areas

To reduce manure nutrient pollution of water bodies in farming areas by implementing an innovative duckweed based technology which helps farmers to balance nutrient surpluses and facilitate an integrated nutrient management.

O2. To demonstrate improved efficiency and sustainability of the duckweed based technology

To demonstrate improved efficiency and sustainability of the duckweed based technology to achieve high rates of nutrient recovery including nitrogen and phosphorous, in comparison with existing technologies.

O3. To reduce carbon footprint and other environmental impacts of animal protein production

By i) treating manure via anaerobic digestion (AD) reducing GHG emissions, ii) producing duckweed from liquid digested manure while reducing nutrient pollution, and iii) replacing traditional fossil products by biobased high sustainable bio fertilisers and feed.

O4. To improve resource efficiency and close mineral cycles in animal farming systems

To improve resource efficiency and close mineral cycles in animal farming systems by integrating duckweed production and biobased related products within a low input value chain inspired by circular economy concept.

O5. To widely disseminate results and pave the way for their replication in EU farming regions

To widely disseminate results and pave the way for their replication in EU farming regions by developing specific resources, methodologies and a specific e-tool for other farms uptaking.

* Aquatic plants Lemnaceae, so-called duckweeds. This is why “Lemna” is the project acronym.

Economical and technical assessment

E-lemna tool is the first application to analyize the economical and technical assessment of LEMNA system for a different climate conditions, and it will be a relevant resource to be used in the replication activities to be carried out after de project.

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