... composts and horticultural substrates for their optimal use in agriculture, is developing a new project. This aims to developed innovative processes for the valorization for compost, increasing the quality, in particular for its use for controlling soil-borne plant pathogens in the agricultural
sector, based on the enrichment with selected microorg.

Compost is still considered to have a low quality and its price is still relative low compared to similar materials or fertilizers. Indeed compost is considered a waste by composting plants and they are paid by the community for the disposal of wastes rather than by the market. The
project aims to developed innovative processes for the valorization for compost, increasing the quality, in particular for its use for controlling soil-borne plant pathogens in the agricultural sector, based on the enrichment with selected microorganisms, and using it for novel
applications in the agricultural and industrial sectors. 36 months duration
Planned activities are:
- assessment of compost quality and characterization;
- increasing compost quality and suppressiveness;
- isolate novel substances/microorganisms from composts;
- transferring to composting plants new technologies for increasing their market opportunities;
- increase compost quality and strengthen the competitiveness of composting industries;
- develop and test new solutions for crop fertilization and control of plant pathogens based on compost, thus reducing the environmental impact of agriculture;
- development of a new market structure for compost, based on its capacity to suppress plant pathogens and develop new products.

Development stage: Idea

European funding source(s): Environment (including Climate Change), FP7 - Co-operation

Type of Project: FP7 Collaborative Research

Keywords: Rational use of energy (004006), Solid biomass (004005007), Agriculture (007001), Crop Production (007001004)

Organisation type: Other

Organisation size: <50

Other details : The spin-off is mainly active in the field of sustainable crop protection and valorisation of organic wastes and by-products, composts and horticultural substrates for their optimal use in agriculture. It uses patented microorganisms to control plant diseases and
an advanced methodology for analysis in order to assess the quality of composts, working with SMEs producing organic wastes, biodegradable plastics, composting plants and farms. In particular, the assessment is related to study the capacity of compost to suppress economically
important diseases of vegetables and flowers.

Target partner organisation type(s): Other

Target partner expertise sought: Expertise on marketing strategies for ecological products, expertise on composting, expertise on green businesses

Application domains: Waste management