ABOUT US

The CombiFarm project develops living labs to demonstrate: (1) circular farming systems combining energy, carbon and nutrient recovery systems based on low-cost biochar, biogas, and microalgae fertigation technologies together with (2) sustainable cropping systems based on low-input crops (alfalfa, sorghum, durum wheat, pearl millet, lentils, quinoa, chickpea, aloe vera, prickly pear cactus, salicornia, glassworts, aromatic crops) and (3) solar-powered smart drip irrigation systems to generate (4) high-value bioproducts including food, feed, cosmetics and biopesticide production at local level. The project will develop and demonstrate the integrated systems in real conditions at selected pilot sites near Settat, Ait’Mhamed and Dakhla island, Morocco, as well as Mateur, Tunisia, and Ljubjana, Slovenia. Low-cost pyrolysis cookstoves of 30L following Indian-type “Anila stove” batch Top-Lid Up-Draft (TLUD) design will be deployed at the pilot sites for combined production of biochar (soil conditioner) and heat (clean cooking from solid agro-industrial residues. In Settat, a 10m3 biogas reactor currently installed by a Moroccan company using local sustainable materials (brick walls and earth insulation) will be used in the project. Downstream of the biogas reactor, a press filter will be installed for solid-liquid separation, which can be facilitated by biochar addition. Microalgae cultivation will take place in mixotrophic mode (microalgae operating in synergy with bacteria for bioconversion of organic matter) in different configurations: 1) on separated liquid effluent of the biogas reactor (in Settat, Morocco), 2) on aquaculture effluents (in Dakhla, Morocco), 3) on agro-industrial effluents, including olive oil and cheese whey (in Mateur, Tunisia and Ljubjana, Slovenia). Microalgae will not be harvested, but delivered to the test fields as fertigation (ferti-irrigation) with biostimulant effect, hence saving the costs of microalgae harvest. Microalgae biofilms will be grown, allowing for direct harvesting as transportable biostimulants. Public access of pilot monitoring data will be ensured by linking IoT sensors to a cloud-based digital platform. The

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Period of Implementation
Jun 1, 2024 - Jun 1, 2027
Total Budget
EUR 825,920.00

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OUR IMPACT

Objectives

Combifarm project focuses on optimizing carbon, water, and nutrient cycles through the use of biochar, microalgae-based fertigation, and treated effluents, while enhancing the production and quality of bioproducts for food, feed, and biopesticides. The project also deploys smart solar-powered irrigation and digital tools for efficient farming systems. In addition, it integrates socio-economic and environmental analysis through multidisciplinary approaches. Finally, the project promotes communication, capacity building to support sustainable agriculture and future innovation guidance.

Impact Pathway

In relation to the impact associated with reduced CO₂-equivalent emissions resulting from the utilization of local and renewable energy sources, reduced dependence on conventional energy suppliers, and the promotion of energy drawn from local renewable sources, the information presented in Section 2.1 of the submitted proposal remains wholly pertinent and relevant to the context of the project, which is further supported by the results of recent experimental data. The UH1 Laboratory-scale BMP assay team verified the technical feasibility and efficiency of the anaerobic co-digestion of cattle manure, household organic waste, and agricultural residues, which resulted in a 15 to 20% increase in the production of biogas, in alignment with international standards regarding the content of methane in the range of 55 to 65%. The controlled production of methane gas from locally sourced organic materials contributes to greenhouse gas reduction in the environment. This is because it prevents the release of methane gas into the environment. Moreover, the optimization of the carbon to nitrogen ratio of approximately 25, the maintenance of a stable pH range of 6.8 to 7.2, and a substantial reduction of approximately 45 to 55% in the content of volatile substances in the materials confirm the efficiency of the project in its application. Therefore, no updates are necessary in relation to the content of Section 2.1 of the proposal; rather, it provides quantitative evidence of the impact of the project on the environment. For the second point of the section 2.1 of the impact of the proposal project which is related to : i) the use of the biochar and microalgae in the farming system as a circular bio-economy approach, ii) how this amendments improve overall land productivity and iii) reducing the impacts of climate change on Mediterranean, were successfully achieved. Indeed, INRAT, INRA, CERTE, GEPEA, and the Ljubljana team worked in close coordination and demonstrated strong commitment throughout the execution of the project. Their collaborative efforts ensured the efficient development of the circular bio-economy approach, including microalgae cultivation, biochar production, sustainable cropping systems integration, and resource-efficient irrigation strategies. The obtained results were highly satisfactory, demonstrating clear progress toward improved resource use efficiency, enhanced land productivity, and increased resilience of Mediterranean farming systems to climate change.

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