Our approach & work
Ten Work Packages, closely interlinked, including seven research-oriented WP in addition to communication, management and ethics
in brief
Ten Work Packages interrelated
Seven of the WPs are research orientated (WPs 1-7), followed by communication and dissemination (WP8), management and coordination (WP9) and ethics requirements (WP10).
Research oriented work packages are interrelated. Estimation of total amount of NRSS available regionally within EU (WP1) will provide a data basis for the amount of BBFs potentially available. Legal restrictions (WP1) and acceptance of society (WP7), including farmers, consumers and industry are the main drivers for BBFs to become admissible on the market. Overall effect of BBFs on soil quality and crop growth will be evaluated (WP2). Agronomic efficiency of N and P in BBFs will be determined and compliance methods screened for different climatic regions of EU (WPs 3 & 4) for providing efficient use of BBFs and minimising environmental impact. Actual P fertiliser requirement at the EU level will be estimated and potential of BBF to fulfil this need is evaluated (WP3). For securing safe use of BBFs, potential effects on soil biota, toxicity for plants and risks for human health will be evaluated (WP5). Policy instruments for optimising fertiliser use across the EU, while minimising its negative impacts (WPs 6 & 7) will be provided.
In details
Work Package Objectives
WP1 - Assessment of NRSS in the EU and their use as BBFs
WP Leader: Sylvia Kratz (JKI) – sylvia.kratz[at]julius-kuehn.de
The objective of WP1 is to identify and quantify NRSS regionally available in EU for producing BBFs and to analyse their current potential to replace mineral fertilisers and related legal restrictions.
The findings of WP1 are utilised in WP2 when selecting the most feasible methods for producing novel BBFs. The data is also needed for introduction of compliance methods for P (Task 3.2) and N (Task 4.2). Current regional distribution of NRSS in EU is needed in WPs 6 & 7 for optimising the production of BBFs and their optimal distribution across EU.
WP2 - General effects of BBFs on soil quality / functioning and plant growth
WP Leader: Andrea Bauerle (UHOH) – a.bauerle[at]uni-hohenheim.de
The objective of WP2 is to investigate and build an inventory of the effects of current and novel BBFs on soil quality (with a particular focus on soil C dynamics) and potential plant growth, both using literature analysis and an experimental approach.
The results of WP2 will serve as important inputs to WP3 and WP4 determining agronomic efficiency of P and N, to WP5 on risk assessment and to WP6 for the LCA of various BBFs and Tasks 2.2 and 2.4 will be carried out in close collaboration with the WP3 and WP4.
WP3 - Agronomic efficiency of BBFs as P source for crops
WP Leader: Else Bünemann (FiBL) – else.buenemann[at]fibl.org
The objective of WP3 is to determine the agronomic efficiency of P in BBFs and their potential in replacing imported mineral P fertilisers in Europe. Compliance methods for current and emerging BBFs are developed and evaluated for ensuring fertiliser quality.
Results will be utilised by WP6 for LCA analyses and in WP7 for optimising the use of BBFs at EU level. Outcomes of this WP can be utilised by companies for improving nutrient recycling in agriculture (e.g. SoilCares, Roullier Group, EcoPlant), environmental, agriculture and food safety authorities, both at national and EU level, for securing safe use of BBFs and European Committee for Standardization (CEN) for future compliance tests for BBFs.
WP4 - Agronomic efficiency of BBFs as N source for crops
WP Leader: Lars Stoumann Jensen (UCPH) – lsj[at]plen.ku.dk
The objective of WP4 is to determine the agronomic N efficiency for current and novel BBFs, including development of compliance methods and standards for assessment of crop N availability and mineral N fertiliser replacement potential of BBFs, as well as remote sensing-based variable rate application techniques.
The results of WP4 will be used within LEX4BIO in WP6 (inputs for the LCA of various BBFs) and WP7 (scenarios for optimal use of BBFs). The outcome of WP4 will be guidelines and assessment standards for optimal quality and use of N containing BBFs, to be utilised by environmental, agricultural and food safety authorities (at EU and national level), fertiliser producing industry and BBF end-users (farmers, horticulturalists and their advisory services).
WP5 - Risk assessment of the application of BBFs
WP Leader: Chris Slootweg (UvA) – j.c.Slootweg[at]uva.nl
The objective of WP5 is to determine risks related to application of BBFs, including risks related to food safety, human health and environmental losses and producing solid guidelines for safe use of BBFs.
Results will be further used by WP7 for optimising the use of BBFs and by Food safety authorities (EFSA) and industry for optimising technologies for producing safe BBFs.
WP6 - Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
WP Leader: Ludwig Hermann (Proman) – l.hermann[at]proman.pro
The objective of WP6 is to perform a comparative LCA of BBFs, mineral fertilisers and traditional methods of using agricultural residues. The LCA will be based on a jointly established convention aiming at making future LCAs of
fertilising products comparable, thus enabling policymakers, regulatory bodies and stakeholders at large to understand and compare the expected ecological impact of producing and using BBFs and mineral fertilisers.
WP7 - Coherent policy framework and socioeconomic impacts for the use of BBFs
WP Leader: Marzena Smol (PAS) – smol[at]meeri.pl
The objectives of WP7 is to deliver evidence-based policy recommendations for achieving higher use efficiency of BBFs and socioeconomic improvements for the rural population (jobs, income, more liveable rural regions).
WP8 - Dissemination and communication
WP Leader: Manon Ballester (EP) – manon.ballester[at]europroject.bg
The objective of WP8 is to disseminate and communicate about the project activities, outputs and outcomes to all relevant stakeholders to boost the impact of the project and to aid in achieving all project objectives.
WP9 - Project management
WP Leader: Kari Ylivainio (Luke) – kari.ylivainio[at]luke.fi
The objective of WP9 is to ensure a successful implementation of the LEX4BIO project through:
- Managing the project efficiently and taking care of administration and reporting
- Coordinating all activities of the project and ensuring their proper targeting as well as a good coordination within partnership.
- Guaranteening a sound financial monitoring and reporting of all activities
- Ensuring compliance with data management standards, research ethics and gender equality issues in all project-related activities
- Monitoring regularly project progress and identifying and managing potential risks
WP10 - Ethics requirements
WP Leader: Kari Ylivainio (Luke) – kari.ylivainio[at]luke.fi
The objective is to ensure compliance with the ‘ethics requirements’ regarding human consent, non-European countries involvement, environmental authorisations, data protection and management.