Published on 08 Jan 2025
Newsletter #5 is out, explore in-depth pilot site visits and exclusive insights!
-> Read the newsletter online!
Dear WalNUT friends,
Welcome to the fifth edition of the WalNUT project newsletter!
We open this issue with the recent visits at the two Spanish pilot plants in Zamora (Castilla y Leon) and Ourense (Galicia).
In October, during the WalNUT General Assembly, partners visited the pilot site in Ourense, run by CETAQUA. This pilot recovers soluble nitrogen from reject water flows. CETAQUA walked us through the plant and showed how the pilot operates to recover soluble nitrogen from waste flows, which is subsequently repurposed in the production of bio-based fertilisers.
In November, the consortium gathered to visit the pilot plant managed by VEOLIA and CARTIF at Zamora. This case study focuses on treating local industrial wastewater, using a two-stage microalgae cultivation process that removes contaminants and produces biomass, which is then dried into a fine powder to create nutrient-rich, sustainable bio-based fertilisers. The system is explained by the VEOLIA and CARTIF team in this video.
Our “A chat with WalNUT” series of video interviews continues with three new experts:
– Alejandro Saldarriaga Vásquez, Innovation Engineer at Veolia, introducing their work on WalNUT’s business models and exploitation pathways
– Isabel González García, PhD Environmental Engineer at Itacyl, examining the challenges of adopting bio-based fertilisers (BBFs) in Europe
– Massimo Pugliese, Associate Professor at University of Torino, introducing the methodologies used in field trials and the current stage in the testing of bio-based fertilisers provided by the different pilots.
A new journalistic article is online! “Cultivating change” explores the potential of bio-based fertilisers as a more eco-friendly alternative to conventional products, highlighting how the WalNUT project is working to overcome market and regulatory barriers at EU level.
Happy holidays and stay tuned for a brilliant 2025!
Thank you and enjoy your reading!
The WalNUT team
Cover picture by S. Tsuchiya on Uplash
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