Upgrading of solid phase of livestock wastes into pelleted organic fertilisers to prevent organic matter decline

The overall objective of the project is to demonstrate an innovative soil management in order to help increasing soil organic matter, improving soil fertility, reducing GHG and NH3 emissions and restoring the carbon level in deficitary areas through the upgrading (stabilization and pelletization) of livestock manure. The specific objectives of the project are: - to demonstrate that the use of pelletizing is a cost-effective solution to move organic matter and nutrients from vulnerable areas characterized by high production of animal waste to agricultural areas with soil organic matter and fertility deficits; - to demonstrate the potential benefits in broad socio-economic and employment terms (green economy) for different regions of introducing the pelletization of animal manure for fertilisation and soil improvement purposes. - to engage policy makers and relevant stakeholders in a framework of valorisation of whole waste stream chains comprising livestock and agro-food industry waste. - to give an added value to a byproduct deriving from a renewable energy plant, bringing innovation in pelletizing process of digested slurry for fertilizing purpose; - to demonstrate the reduction of the use of synthetic fertilizers by adding value to the nutrients from animal waste through pelletization; - to demonstrate the agronomical and practical benefits of the produced pellet through nutrient availability and organic carbon pool in the soil, enhancing soil fertility and conservation; - to demonstrate at the local, national and international scale the environmental, technical and economic project innovative processes advantages through the implementation of a specific LCA approach and regional case studies. - to monitor the whole project's activity in terms of environmental advantages and carbon footprint.