The D-VA project aims to promote the circular economy in the lavender sector of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. The project will evaluate the potential benefits of composting distillation residues before returning them to the soil.
The first step will be to survey producers about their perceptions of this practice and identify possible synergies with distillation platforms in the region. Meanwhile, field trials comparing the effects of different types of organic matter (mature compost and raw materials) on soil and crops will be conducted and monitored under production conditions. The project team will monitor soil biological activity, such as earthworms and microorganisms, as well as the effect of these practices on the resilience of soil and crops in the face of climate change.
Indicators relating to soil structure (e.g., aggregate stability, water retention, and infiltration) and plant quality (e.g., essential oil yield and composition and quantification of biochemical antioxidant markers) will be employed to this end. In the end, the project aims to disseminate acquired knowledge as widely as possible among different stakeholders in the sector, including producers, distillation and composting platforms, agricultural advisors, and the scientific community.
Coordination de projets, conception et réalisation d'expériences, transfert de connaissances
