Blog from the Environmental Engineering Research Group at SLU
Prithvi, Jenna and Björn from the urine drying research group were interviewed for SLU’s Urban Futures. We discussed how redirecting our urine from our wastewater to our agricultural fields can help to reduced greenhouse gas emissions and to have more sustainable agriculture. Read the article here.
This study aimed to enhance the biodegradable solid waste management of low-quality food and agro-industrial waste streams, in terms of BSFL process performance efficiencies by means of co-composting. A fibre-rich, hard to degrade waste stream such as fruit peels by BSFL, was co-composted with a low-quality protein-rich waste stream (fish waste). Results show that co-composting has the ability to increase the BSFL composting efficiencies from nutrient-imbalanced substrates such those used in this study. Protein content increased as more fish waste was added into the substrate mixtures. Biomass conversion rate was generally increased by the addition of fish waste in the substrate mixtures and the highest conversion and BSFL weight achieved was 25 % and 269 mg larva-1, respectively, with 75 % fish waste (12 % protein addition) inclusion. However, BSFL treatment efficiency parameters showed wide variation with inclusion of 75 % fish waste in the substrate, possibly owing to differences in nutritional composition (especially fat content) of different fish waste batches. Lower variations in process efficiency renders higher reliability of the treatment process. Therefore, 25 % inclusion of fish waste (4 % protein addition) was concluded to be beneficial and sufficient enough to improve the overall BSFL process efficiency.
To read more, press here.
Isibika A., Vinnerås B., Kibazohi O., Zurbrügg C. & Lalander C. (2021) Co-composting of banana peel and orange peel waste with fish waste to improve conversion by black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens (L.), Diptera: Stratiomyidae) larvae. Journal of Cleaner Production 318, 128570
The concept of “circular biobased economy” has become an important pillar of a new generation of policies that are expected to solve the current sustainability crisis. Moving towards a circular biobased economy crucially depends on biological and technical processes capable of recirculating plant nutrients – from used biobased products back to the production of food, feed, fibre, fuel, and so forth.
Nutrient flow analyses can help identify drivers of unsustainable patterns and opportunities for moving towards more sustainable patterns. As part of a broader food system design project in the Okanagan Bioregion, BC Canada, we analysed the flows of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium to help stakeholders in the bioregion better understand current levels of nutrient circularity and how it could be improved.
Chris Buckley was a dear colleague, mentor and friend. He passed away peacefully on the 27th May 2021 after a hard and brave fight against cancer. He is sorely missed. I remember the first day I met Chris very well – it was at World Water Week in Stockholm 2013. He’d never heard of me when I introduced myself as a young researcher from the Björn Vinnerås Lab at SLU, but that didn’t matter. Chris directly brought me into his professional social network and started connecting me with all who he thought I needed to meet. Over the years Chris continued to act as a catalyst in creating connections and opportunities for me. While at the same time influencing my work on urine-drying. I am so thankful for having him in my life and for all the wisdom he so graciously shared. Chris was a wonderful role model of how to be welcoming and hardworking while also knowing when to take break. For me, his legacy will live on through the projects that I am participating in thanks to him. Cheers Chris – missing you.
Written by Jenna Senecal
Day 49 in our Barley Field Trials – No visible difference between the urine fertilizer (right) and the mineral fertilizer (+control; left). While the barley that did not receive fertilizer (-control, middle) is shorter and a paler green.
We are so happy that on the IVA list, our group is one among the 100 projects with our urine-based fertiliser!
Read more here!
Cecilia Lalander from environmental engineering group and other leading experts were interviewed about the circular sanitary system of the future. If you are interested, read more here (in Swedish):
https://www.forskning.se/2021/05/27/hur-ska-vi-bli-av-med-skiten
Contact: Cecilia Lalander
The barley fertilized with our dried urine is growing well.
The picture meant to be posted here as well (but can’t) is taken 27 days after planting and it looks really good!
Research and development of circular nutrient technologies has intensified over the past years, making research output in this field increasingly hard to navigate and keep track of. There is a need for a robust and comprehensive mapping and synthesis of existing relevant research and better brokering of knowledge to policy and practice.
Researchers at our group are involved in the collaborative project End-of-wastewater that aims to: