Carbon Fork

Carbon Fork

Carbon biorefinery by zero emission recycling/reuse of agricultural and food industrial by-products for carbon negative horticultural applications

One of the main challenge of the 21'st century is the increased sustainability and competitiveness of the agricultural and food industrial production, while safeguarding consumer health, decreasing environmental impacts and taking account of climate change, in agriculture, horticulture and forestry. For land based biological resources, special emphasis to be placed on low-input and organic production systems and improved management of resources, with prime concern of optimal recycling and reuse of agro/ food industrial wast streams.

The 3R-AGROCARBON-BIOREFINERY innovation started up late 80's and the RTD programmes accelerated after 2002, when EU started to large scale support the development programme (EU-FP5 Multi Fuel, EU-FP6 Protector, CIP-ECOINNOVATION), aiming at enhancing the reuse of organic waste in agriculture and food industry, in order to reduce the use of mineral fertiliser in crop production and minimise the negative impact of agriculture on the environment and on climate change. As a result of the innovation the 3R contributing to the reduction of chemicals use in agriculture, stimulating industrial innovation by improving the bio-waste treatment process and by improving the quality and safety of the final products, including more efficient utilisation of the final products by the end-users while developing new application methods.

In this context during past decade the 3R-AGROCARBON-BIOREFINERY build up an bridge between higher education, research and development, and business enterprises for joint RTD and commercial application of new carbon biorefinery technique, consisting of two major technology groups, such as: ZERO-EMISSIONconversion of agro/food industrial waste info refined carbons by integrated pyrolysis thermal and biotech treatments, and CARBON-NEGATIVE applications for agricultural, horticultural and forest nursery purposes.

High qualitative science and technology knowledge and innovation generated with high efficient utilization of the innovative potential and resources of knowledge by integrating several EU programmes in 10 countries, while partnerships established between various actors of a knowledge-based economy. During the innovation process academics, SME's, NGO's and industrial organizations combined for coherent innovation works with improved connection and communication among one another and across national borders. Knowledge and Innovation Centre established in West Hungary (Polgardi), including construction of "product-like" 3R-AGROCARBON-BIOREFINERY technology pilot plant, while true value field tests made all over Europe and Israel to demonstrate technical and economical viability, while interlinking applied science and marked driven economical industrial applications.

In this context the new 3R-AGROCARBON-BIOREFINERY technology opens new technical, economical and environmental opportunities for sustainable development.

The 3R-AGROCARBON-BIOREFINERY provides solid Trans-European knowledge-base innovative technologies for recycling and upgrading of bone meal for environmentally friendly crop protection and nutrition which contributes to the competitiveness and sustainability of major European Eco-industries and bio-based economy. The AGROCARBON measurable, justified and verified scientific and technological achievements will open new technical and economical perspectives for the competitive European vegetable production industry, resulting in safer, higher quality and less costly vegetables for the Consumer.

The 3R-AGROCARBON-BIOREFINERY realized Consumer-demanded "farm-to-fork" vegetable and food products that are both safe and affordable. Considering the fact that vegetables are the second most important food supply after dairy products in the EU, the AGROCARBON activities strengthening the scientific and technological knowledge base that is required to improve the health and well-being of European citizens; this will be achieved through a higher quality of food, improved control of food production practices and of related environmental factors.

The objective of the 3R-AGROCARBON-BIOREFINERY is the added value upgrading/ valorisation of plant and/or animal bone origin agro/food industrial organic by-product streams into safe and useful soil amendment products by integrated thermal and biotechnological zero emission recycling means.

The medium to large scale capacity 3R-AGROCARBON-BIOREFINERY industrial process outputs providing carbon negative product applications, primarily re-used in the horticultural industry for safe vegetable productions in in soil and soil-less low-input and organic farming cultivations. EU Authority permitted both for industrialized carbon processing and output AGROCARBON soil application in open ecological soil environment. The 3R is patented original solution and comprehensive industrial design, which development is priority supported by the EU since 2001.

The 3R-AGROCARBON-BIOREFINERY process provides high efficient carbon conversion both for plant based biomass and/or animal bone meals as well. Which feeds are selected is all depending on feed availability, logistics and production objectives, however, when natural Phosphorous is the economical valorization aim, than animal bone must be used.

The 3R-AGROCARBON-BIOREFINERY process is based on a horizontally arranged indirectly heated rotary kiln, providing reductive thermal decomposition of any plant/animal biomass up to 850 degree C in vacuum, with zero emission performance comprehensive recycling and reuse of process gases. Standard capacity is from 30,000 m3/year throughput. The AGROCARBON product is further upgraded biotechnologically by Solid-State-Fermentation-Formulation, designed to specifically selected soil microbiological consortiums. The process upgrades biomass waste/by-products into high added value, safe, economical and efficient biological crop protection, plant growth promotion and natural fertilization products for environmentally friendly horticultural cultivations in soil and soil-less low-input and organic farming.

3R AGROCARBON: http://www.3ragrocarbon.com or http://www.terrenum.net/AGROCARBON_FAQ.pdf EU-AGRINET: http://ec.europa.eu/research/agriculture/success_protector_en.htm

About the Author

Edward Someus is a Swedish environmental engineer, specializing for added value recycling, reuse and carbon biorefinery of agricultural and food industrial by-products by integrated pyrolysis and biotech means. Inventor of the 3R zero emission technology original and patented solution, which is a high efficient carbonization process and solid state fermentation and formulation of carboniferous materials for soil application in the horticultural and forest nursery cultivations. Coordinator and key technology designer of EU scientific research and development programmes since 2001, covering academic and industrial cooperation in ten EU countries.