Compost and vegetables Seeland

Vegetable cultivation faces two problems: the disposal of organic residues from production and the declining fertility of the soil. Directly applying this organic waste to fields increases the risk of spreading diseases and invasive weeds and utilises the nutrients in the waste suboptimally.

This project aims to create a sustainable economic model that benefits vegetable growers and organic waste recyclers (through composting and/or methanisation) by optimising the use of organic waste and improving soil fertility while ensuring financial viability.

The following innovations are proposed for the Seeland region as part of this project:

• Closed loop: Creation of an integrated model in the Seeland region that promotes synergies between vegetable growers and local composters.
• Sensible local recycling of waste from vegetable farmers in the Zealand region, which will lead to a reduction in external inputs through the use of compost specific to target crops.

The project will also have a positive impact on the ecological footprint of vegetable farming by reducing the need for chemical fertilizers and lowering greenhouse gas emissions (mainly methane and nitrous oxide) resulting from the improper disposal of organic residues.

• Kommission für Wirtschaftsförderungsmassnahmen CAPE des Kantons Freiburg

• Further programmes

• Innoplattform.bio
• Hochschule für Agrar-, Forst- und Lebensmittelwissenschaften (HAFL)
• Kompostieranalge Seeland AG
• Terraviva
• Gemüseproduzenten-Vereinigung der Kantone Bern und Freiburg (GVBF)
• Transportunternehmen/landwirtschaftliche Dienstleister

• Fuchs Jacques (Department of Crop Sciences)

Project Manager

• Plant Protection: Phytopathology & Entomology (Department of Crop Sciences, FiBL Switzerland)