CIRCE will promote agricultural sustainability with two projects aimed at the management and valorisation of coffee grounds and digestate

CIRCE - Technological Center will leverage its research expertise and lead 'FERTCAFÉ' and 'OPTIDIGEST', two projects aimed at valorizing agricultural waste and by-products. These initiatives are part of the latest call for Operational Groups by the European Innovation Partnership (EIP), under the National Strategic Plan for the CAP 2023-2027 for this year, and have been granted by the Government of Aragon through the Department of Agriculture.

With 'OPTIDIGEST' and 'FERTCAFÉ', the technological center aims to develop a new model for managing waste and by-products to valorize them effectively, without compromising rural areas and seeking agricultural soil sustainability in the Autonomous Community.

'FERTCAFÉ', seeking a new sustainable fertilizer using coffee grounds

The main objective of 'FERTCAFÉ' is to develop a new biofertilizer based on coffee grounds, contributing to another example of circular economy in Aragon. Through this initiative, the goal is to improve soil quality, profitability, and sustainability of agricultural operations, as well as reduce carbon footprint by reusing one of its wastes. All aligned with the requirements of the new CAP and Law 7/2022, of April 8, on waste and contaminated soils for a circular economy.

The project will monitor the field application of the produced biofertilizer and soil quality in vineyard and dryland agricultural systems. The project area includes the regions to which the organizations forming the Operational Group consortium belong: Hoya de Huesca, Cinca Medio, and Somontano de Barbastro. In this last region, tests of the developed fertilizer application will be conducted in Viñas del Vero vineyards and a dryland farm, with the collaboration of UAGA.

The group consists of five entities, with Eboca Vending Labs S.A. and Defeder Alcolea S.L. acting as beneficiaries. Non-beneficiary members include the Union of Farmers and Ranchers of Aragon (UAGA) and the Association for Rural Development of the Hoya de Huesca (ADESHO). The CIRCE technological center acts as the project coordinator.

'OPTIDIGEST', optimization of digestate treatment for composting

Additionally, CIRCE will coordinate the 'OPTIDIGEST' project. Digestate is a potent biofertilizer expected to increase in the Autonomous Community due to the implementation of new biogas plants as renewable energy sources. In this case, the main objective is to promote sustainability in Aragon by preserving soil fertility and water capacity. This will be achieved through managing and valorizing digestate as a waste to mitigate the effects of climate change through compost derived from this material.

Specifically, this project will be developed in the regions of Bajo Cinca and Los Monegros, aiming to replicate these actions in other parts of Aragon. Additionally, the project will monitor the field application of produced compost and soil quality in dryland agricultural systems, evaluating the improvement in fertilizer distribution and efficiency through extended spreaders.

Furthermore, the implementation of this project aims to boost job creation in rural areas and increase awareness of sustainable agricultural practices and proper digestate management.

The group is made up of five entities. The beneficiary members are EBOCA Vending Labs S.A., a company dedicated to the production and distribution of roasted coffee from its plant in Huesca and DEFEDER Alcolea S.L., a company dedicated to the research, development, exploitation and commercialisation of ecological fertiliser products. Viñas del Vero, a winery of the Somontano D.O. as demonstrator and tester of the new fertiliser in its vineyards, is also a non-beneficiary member. On the part of the agricultural sector, in addition to the beneficiary members mentioned above, a large agricultural and livestock group, Unión de Agricultores y Ganaderos de Aragón (UAGA), with a large presence in the Aragonese territory, participates in the project. In addition, ADESHO, Association for the Regional Rural Development of La Hoya de Huesca, will also contribute to the project by organising local workshops and dissemination events. As coordinator and expert in waste recovery, CIRCE participates as a Technology Centre.

Innovative solutions to enhance competitiveness in the agri-food sector

Operational Groups of the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) aim to provide solutions to specific rural challenges, improving competitiveness in the agri-food sector within the framework of efficient resource management, achieving sustainable growth and fostering innovation. Composed of individuals and entities who, after identifying a problem to solve, collaborate with public or private R&D+i centers and technological centers to develop research projects leading to innovation.

The transfer of these knowledge-based solutions is crucial for enhancing the agri-food sector and achieving higher levels of competitiveness through improved efficiency, technological advancement, and sustainability.