The long-term strategic objective of the Baltic Manure project is to change the general perception of manure from a waste product to a resource, while also identifying its inherent business opportunities with the right manure handling technologies and policy framework.
To achieve this objective three interconnected manure forums will be established with the focus areas knowledge, policy, and business, where researchers, developers, administrators, and business people can come together to develop the many opportunities of manure as fertiliser and energy. Research and development within renewable energy and nutrient recycling will be combined with business innovation efforts to achieve sustainable agriculture, prosperity, and job creation in the BSR.
The overall project goals are to enhance business, improve nutrient cycles, foster renewable energy use in the region, and reduce environmental load from agriculture to the Baltic Sea. In other words to contribute to making the Baltic Sea region an attractive place to invest, work, and live.
Five themes will be treated in the project:
Baltic Manure is a Flagship Project in the Action Plan of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region adopted by member states in 2009. It involves 18 project partners from 8 countries with MTT – Agrifood Research as lead partner. The total project budget is € 3.7 million and it is partly financed by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund).
Partners: Agrifood Research Finland (MTT), Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), Agro Business Park A/S, Aarhus University, University of Southern Denmark, Swedish Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering (JTI), Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI), Estonian University of Life Sciences, University of Rostock, Green Federation GAJA, University of Helsinki, University of Gdansk, Latvia University of Agriculture, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, Biogas Association Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Swerea SWECAST AB/Enterprise Europe Network, Turku Science Park and Estonian Research Institute of Agriculture.
Project period: 2010 – 2013.