A delegation of the BETA Technological Centre travels to Argentina in the framework of the FERTIMANURE project

A delegation of the BETA Technology Centre, together with other representatives of the European FERTIMANURE project, has been visiting several sites in Argentina for a week to learn first-hand about the reality of several livestock farms, to participate in relevant events of the agricultural and livestock sector, and also to exchange knowledge with several stakeholders (farmers, livestock farmers, technology providers, researchers and public administration). In addition, the trip was also aimed at organising the second major event of the European FERTIMANURE project, where Argentina also participates as a partner through INTA, the National Institute of Agricultural Technology.

On the first day, the FERTIMANURE project working group had the opportunity to participate in EXPOAGRO, the most important fair of the agricultural sector in Argentina, where FERTIMANURE was present to disseminate its technological results and products, and to share its experiences with other researchers and the private sector, especially with fertiliser companies.

During the trip, they also visited the facilities of Adecoagro, a dairy farm with more than 30,000 cows, which has an anaerobic digestion system for the energetic valorisation of the livestock manure generated. During the visit, they had the opportunity to learn about the operation of this large farm and there was also a discussion session with several livestock and agricultural producers to exchange experiences and to see how FERTIMANURE’s experience can help them to look for new business opportunities.

There was also the opportunity to meet and visit a small-medium sized pig production in the area of Arrecifes, where the work done in Europe in the sustainable management of livestock manure could also be presented to various stakeholders in that region of Argentina.

Finally, the FERTIMANURE consortium organised its own event at the INTA-Castelar facilities to transfer the results and experiences directly to different stakeholders. This event allowed the presentation of the preliminary results obtained in the various biorefineries that the project has built in five European countries, which are working to create new technological schemes for the management of livestock manure in the framework of the bioeconomy.