EU Pilot 6

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AUTH and Kefalas content

AUTH & kefalas

The AUTH & KEFALAS Pilot is located in Greece, Region of Central Macedonia, Prefecture of Thessaloniki. The area is located in the agricultural territory of Kolchiko. The area is characterized as rural, where arable crops cultivation and cow - sheep farming are the main activities.

THE CURRENT SITUATION
PILOT SOLUTION

THE CURRENT SITUATION

As a part of vertical integration strategy Kefalas Georgiki Dairy Farm is producing feed for their cows. The crops of corn for silage and vetch are mainly used for feed production from arable land. In the past, soil fertilization was carried out by using chemical fertilizers and untreated manure. Kefalas Georgiki Dairy Farm involvement in the biogas industry enabled the application of an organic fertilizer in the form of liquid digestate (biogas plant effluent) for at least the last 3 years. However, application of liquid digestate needs optimum weather conditions (not excessive rain or wind) in order to minimize nutrient losses through emissions and leaching.

The current and emerging innovation demands:

Preservation and improvement of soil fertility by application of better-quality biofertilizers produced from the waste streams of Kefalas Georgiki Dairy Farm. Furthermore, reduction of the feed cost production by the substitution of chemical with highly efficient organic fertilizers will ensure long-term sustainability of Kefalas Georgiki Dairy Farm in the dairy industry.

PILOT SOLUTION

Successful implementation of a circular economy model at Kefalas Dairy Farm by upgrading the manure and digestate into an improved organic fertilizer with increased nutrient efficiency and reduced emissions.

Documentation

PILOT CHALLENGES (CONTEXT)

Kefalas dairy farm (Thessaloniki) is a modern dairy farm SME company. The company has modern cow housing systems where about 300 dairy cows are reared. Kefalas is cultivating about 80 ha of agricultural land to produce highly nutritious feed for livestock. There is a lack of circular economy and general environmental awareness in mixed farm systems such as feed production and dairy farming system.

PILOT OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the AUTH & KEFALAS Pilot are following:

To establish local baseline variability in biological soil quality indicators

To determine if soil degradation has taken place with conventional management

To determine whether adoption of promising management techniques promoting a circular economy model may improve soil quality

To optimize the system for high yields in balance with preserving, restoring or improving soil quality

PILOT INNOVATIONS

Animal wastes management to succeed nutrient recirculation and protection of soil fertility.

AUTH and Kefalas col

Pilot response to SIEUSOIL objectives

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Stakeholder Requirements

Farmers in the greater area of Lagada are currently using chemical fertilizers for their crops. Kefalas Georgiki involvement in the biogas sector led to the use of biofertilizers, such as liquid digestate or treated manure, as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution.

Current Scenario

Excessive use of chemical fertilizers due to intensive crop farming, led to soil degradation. The decrease of soil organic matter content due to continual soil degrading management practices resulted in a reduction of soil biota, both in biomass and diversity.

Envisioned Scenario

Βio-fertilizers produced after the treatment of the waste streams of Kefalas Georgiki Dairy Farm, will contribute to the reduction of the feed cost production by substituting chemical with highly efficient organic fertilizers and this will ensure a long-term sustainability of Kefalas Dairy Farm in the dairy industry. A broad range of stakeholders from different sectors (farmers, consulting companies etc.) are interested into information of how to apply a successful circular economy model. Stakeholders’ participation will be sought throughout meetings, discussions and demonstration of project activities or by contributing into drawing new ideas for the creation of a sophisticated business plan.

Approach

Application of different types of fertilizers (organic and artificial) in arable land for feed production. Collection of soil samples, analysis and data processing regarding specific soil biodiversity indicators after application of different fertilizers. Evaluation of the performed techniques for feed production and demonstration to the stakeholders.

Expected Benefits

Some of the expected benefit through the successful implementation of a circular economy model at Kefalas Georgiki Dairy Farm would be:

Upgrading manure and digestate into an improved organic fertilizer
Application of circular economy
Improve soil nutrient efficiency and reduction of emissions
Cost-effective production

Stakeholder Description

In the project, are several stakeholders at different levels. All pilot partners relevant to the project are the stakeholders.

Stakeholders Connectivity

It was considered 6 Specific stakeholders from 5 different stakeholder groups, which are impacted by the outcomes of the pilot. They have an interest in the success of the pilot platform and can be within or outside SIEUSOIL. A diagram of stakeholder connectivity is provided in the Figure below.

Stakeholder	Role in Pilot	Additional Stakeholders linked to this Stakeholder
#1 G&K Kefalas Georgiki GP	Animal farmers with feed production systems are the end-users of the developed system. Implementation results will be evaluated in terms of the capacity and productivity of each end-user. Information on benefits from the application of the developed system will be shared among farmers by the end-users as their farms will act as a livid example of the effectiveness of the system.	Farmers as end-users of the created system will have a significant role in the pilot demonstration activities and they are connected with all the stakeholders of this pilot.
#2 AUTH University	Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) will carry out the scientific research tasks and will act as a consultant by providing experimental data-based solutions and options to meet future needs of the farmers. The research task will be performed in the agricultural area of Kolchiko in the Region of Central Macedonia, Prefecture of Thessaloniki.	AUTH University has a significant role in the regional development in which it is located and has strong connections and collaboration with policy-makers. AUTH has a vast network of contacts from previous and current participation in National and European research projects that could act as an information source to address problems that may arise from agricultural demonstration pilots.
#3 ErgoPlanning Agriculture advisors	Ergoplanning is a farm advisor company that provides information to a large number of farmers in North Greece. Ergoplanning will take place during the pilot implementation and provide critical information for the adaption of new technologies. Furthermore, Ergoplanning will take a critical role for the spread of the program results.	Close collaboration with all the specific pilot participated stakeholders and other farmers in North Greece.
#4 Darginakis Adam	Animal farmers with feed production systems are the end-users of the developed system. Implementation results will be evaluated in terms of the capacity and productivity of each end-user. Information on benefits from the application of the developed system will be shared among farmers by the end-users as their farms will act as a livid example of the effectiveness of the system.	Farmers as end-users of the created system will have a significant role in the pilot demonstration activities and they are connected with all the stakeholders of this pilot.
#5 Geotechnical Chamber of Greece	The Geotechnical Chamber of Greece (GEOTEE, https://www.geotee.gr/) is a public legal entity with elected administration, supervised by the Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food. GEOTEE is the official technical advisor of the Greek state in the agricultural sector and its activities promotes the competiveness of Greek agriculture and livestock farming. The main task of GEOTEE is to promote the application of the developed system by evaluating the potential for funding support through EU and national programmes.	Close collaboration with all the specific pilot participated stakeholders and with State, National and European organizations.
#6 Grammatikou Evangelos, supplier of seeds, pesticides and ferilizers	The Agricultural Supply Company of Evangelos Grammatikos is active in the field of wholesale and retail sales of agricultural seeds, pesticides and fertilizers. The main role of the agricultural supply company is to examine data from the pilot demonstration actions and to evaluate the profit potential from commercial exploitation of the organic fertilizers utilized for high yield crop cultivations for feed production. Furthermore, relation between the used seed variety characteristics (yield, water needs, days to maturity etc.) and application of the specific organic fertilizer could be possibly identified.	Close collaboration with all the specific pilot stakeholders and with agricultural machinery industry and dealers.

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