Projects
Exploration of the use of biomaterials for heat storage and comfort applications in buildings. Bio-based PCMs and composite materials. KU Leuven
Europe finds itself a major player in the largest flow, in terms of quantity, of special construction and demolition (C&D) waste. The management of waste from the construction sector affects atmospheric emissions, which is why the global climate challenge and the goal of moving ever closer to the ecological transition extends to the European level. In addition, global warming is leading to increasing energy consumption for cooling our ...
New dynamics for the compost industry due to synergy between green energy and high quality compost Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
How can the compost industry optimally apply the available biomass resources for producing green energy and high quality soil improvers? Can we set standardized quality requirements for both end products, being biomass streams and compost? What innovations in composting (adapted composting process in case of lower amounts of bulking agent) are feasible, and what are the possibilities for ...
Compost application and the interaction between compost-and native soil fauna: nematodes as indicator of biological compost maturity and soil food web processes. Ghent University
Experiments will elucidate whether thoroughly characterized composts, differentiated based on their nematode communities, have different effects on soil properties and nematode assemblages. An ecometagenetics approach will distinguish between compost- and native assemblages and reveal if the nematodes in compost directly contribute to the nematode community in the soil vs. that observed effects are due to the overall stimulation of the soil ...
New momentum for the compost sector through synergies between green energy and compost quality KU Leuven
Sustainable soils by quality compost with defined properties Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
In the Soilcom project, high-quality, tailor-made composts with well defined properties and effects were developed and characterized. These composts can help fighting the rapid soil degradation that can occur in intensive agricultural systems such as in the North Sea region. Biological residual flows, such as fruit, vegetable and garden waste and harvest residues, were used as raw materials in the compost ...
Reducing mineral fertilisers and agro-chemicals by recycling treated organic waste as compost and bio-char products Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
The FERTIPLUS project assists the EU in the design and implementation of innovative strategies and technologies for the recycling of waste to both compost and biochar for use in agriculture. Bio-waste has a great potential for conversion into bio-energy or as an alternative to chemical fertilizers. The core theme of FERTIPLUS is to ensure that good quality bio-wastes are brought back to the soil ...
Taxonomical and structural analysis of nematode succession during compost processes Ghent University
Nematodes are often used as bioindicators and the nematode diversity and density in mature compost will be important to build a solid soilfoodweb. In this research 3 main sections will be investigated: 1) the biodiversity of the nematodes during the composting process, 2) the nematode population dynamics during this proces and 3) if and how the nematode composition reflects the condition of the compost process.
Developing a sustainable potting soil based on green waste compost and other locally produced and available feedstock materials Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Can we develop and deliver a sustainable potting soil for the hobby market based on compost and other alternatives for peat? Which locally produced and available feedstock materials can be used? What are the properties of the currently applied growing medium constituents and potting soil mixtures, what is the best blend, and how sustainable are these mixtures?
Research ...
Taxonomical and structural analysis of nematode succession during compost processes Ghent University
Obtain fundamental and systematical knowledge of nematode diversity in compost and udnerstand the succession of nematodes in a compost process. Nematode communities will be analysed over time in different processes in relation to biotic and abiotic parameters. The in situ data will be completed with breeding experiments.