SmartResidue

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas and does not only account for up to 17% of global warming but also is a key target in climate change mitigation actions. Agricultural soils have always been regarded as a very weak sink or a source of methane. However, recent research by the Bodelier group has shown that under laboratory conditions, these soils are capable of (circum-)atmospheric methane uptake after the application of bio-based residues - especially compost. The mechanisms of this residue-stimulated uptake of methane are as yet unknown and are the subject of this project. The project focuses to a large degree on compost and the microbes in there, which seems to be partly responsible for the observed stimulation. We cooperate closely with a number of companies and aim at product development (e.g. engineered compost) for contributing to more climate-friendly agricultural soils.

Important external project members:

• Dr. Ir. Gerard Korthals (https://www.wur.nl/nl/personen/gerard-dr.-gw-gerard-korthals.htm) 

Companies and institutions in this NWO-TTW project's user committee are:

• Bioclear Earth B.V.
• Natural Soil Improvement B.V.
• Vereniging Afvalbedrijven (VA)
• WUR; Wageningen Plant Research; Akkerbouw, Groene ruimte en Vollegrondsgroenten (AGV)