2019_08_20_CIE_nutryfert
Scientists at the University of Navarra develop a technology to manufacture new fertilizers
The project Nutryfert, realized at partnership with Intia, aims to create fertilizers from the recycling of minerals from organic waste.
PHOTO: Manuel Castells
Researchers from the University of Navarra, together with the public company Intia (high school Navarro de Tecnologías e Infraestructuras Agroalimentarias), are working on the scientific project Nutryfert, whose goal is to create new fertilizers by recycling minerals found in agricultural and livestock waste.
"Our project develops a new technology that allows us to transform this waste into a clean raw subject , which contains assimilable mineral nutrients for crops and can be used in the granulation of mineral fertilizers," says José María García-Mina, director of group of research Nutryfert and professor of the School of Sciences of the University of Navarra.
This project is part of a circular Economics because "mineral nutrients - contained in plant waste produced in plant and animal production - are used to manufacture fertilizers that will nourish crops in subsequent years within a cycle that optimizes the use of resources," adds Professor García-Mina.
The first advances of this group of research are already being applied to this innovative project . "We have been able to identify genes that are related to the better use of some of the nutrients, such as iron and phosphorus," says García-Mina.
Nutryfer is a consortium between the group BACh (Biological and Agricultural Chemistry Group) of the University of Navarra and the public company Intia. The researchers of the University of Navarra are in charge of the study and the development of the technology of project while Intia will be the entity manager of the field trials to demonstrate the efficiency of these new fertilizers.
The group Bach of the University of Navarra works on several lines of research related to nutrition: the role of soil organic subject ; humus; nutrient assimilation by plants and microorganisms; internal nutrient use efficiency; control of nutrient losses in ecosystems and minimization of environmental impact, among many others. In addition, he actively collaborates with other national and international groups of research for the detection of new plant hormones and signaling pathways.
The researchers of this project were awarded at the II Science Ekaitza Gala held last June in Baluarte.