AQUAPUR Operational Group: Innovative strategies for manure management in livestock farms: obtaining water and products of high agronomic value

The main objective of AQUAPUR is to strengthen the competitiveness and sustainability of the livestock sector through the development and implementation of innovative technological solutions for manure management. These solutions, adapted to different regions, will allow farmers to obtain products with agronomic value, recover water with the potential for reuse within their own facilities, and comply with EU environmental and health requirements. Outcome 1 is the recommendation of technologies to be applied for nutrient recovery and the elimination of emerging contaminants and pathogens, based on the characteristics of the manure and the geographical area. To achieve this outcome, a protocol will be defined for conducting sampling campaigns on farms, the physicochemical characteristics of the manure generated on livestock farms will be determined, the performance of implemented manure treatment technologies will be evaluated, and the most suitable technology or treatment system for each farm will be defined, taking into account the characteristics of the manure and its geographical features.

As a second outcome of the AQUAPUR Operational Group's work, two (2) treatment trains will be implemented to obtain high-value agronomic products, such as phosphorus salts and digestate, ideal for use as fertilizers. To achieve this, requirements will be gathered, and spaces and plants will be prepared for the implementation of the two pilot plants on the selected farms. Subsequently, the pilot plant for phosphorus salt recovery and the treatment system for nutrient recovery and energy valorization of organic matter will be commissioned, operated, and optimized. The final result will be a technical report on the efficiency of the pilot plant for organic matter valorization and the pilot plant for nutrient recovery, facilitating its transfer to other farms.

The third outcome of the AQUAPUR Operational Group project will be the implementation of a series of technologies or a treatment train capable of recovering 70% of the water contained in pig slurry. To achieve this, requirements will be gathered and spaces prepared for the implementation of the pilot plant at one of the selected farms. Following this, the pilot plant will be put into operation and optimized to enable water recovery from the farm's slurry. The proposed pilot plant for water recovery will consist of two systems: a membrane system and a disinfection system. The performance of two possible disinfection technologies will be evaluated, and the most suitable one will be selected based on the data obtained during operation. The final result will be a technical report on the efficiency of the pilot plant in obtaining water from the slurry.

As a fourth outcome of the AQUAPUR Operational Group's work, an assessment of the environmental risks associated with the presence of veterinary pathogens and antibiotics in agronomic products applied in the field will be conducted. To achieve this outcome, the regulatory framework for obtaining agronomic products from slurry will be reviewed, the agronomic value of phosphorus salts and digestate will be analyzed, and finally, an environmental risk assessment of applying the project's products as fertilizer will be carried out. The final result will be a report of the risk assessment associated with the application of fertilizer products in agricultural fields, verifying that the field application of agronomic products derived from slurry poses a very low or nonexistent risk to the environment.

The fifth outcome of the AQUAPUR Operational Group project will be the assessment of health risks associated with the presence of pathogens and veterinary antibiotics in water recovered for reuse in four farm applications. To achieve this outcome, the initial work will involve reviewing the regulatory framework for the reuse of water recovered from slurry. This will be followed by an analysis of the health criteria for reusing recovered water on farms, based on its intended use. Finally, a health risk assessment will be conducted for reusing water recovered from slurry on farms. The final result will be a report on the risk assessment associated with the reuse of recovered water in livestock and agricultural activities, demonstrating that reusing water recovered from slurry poses a very low or nonexistent risk to human health, animal health, and the environment.

The first outcome of the results transfer and dissemination plan involves the maximum and most effective dissemination and communication of project information to keep the target audience and society at large informed, thereby generating interest in these initiatives and their potential application to other regions and autonomous communities. The primary target audience would be companies, business associations, and professionals linked to the agricultural and livestock sectors, as well as the water cycle management and waste management sectors; and public administrations related to agriculture, livestock, the environment, and rural development. However, the dissemination will be aimed at all interested publics and consumers. The goal is to achieve both national and international reach through websites, press releases, informative articles, social media, blogs, and email, among other channels.

The second outcome of the results transfer and dissemination plan aims to maximize the implementation and transfer of the developed solutions within the relevant sector(s) and achieve maximum dissemination and impact of the project's results among end users. This will improve the economic and environmental sustainability of forage maize cultivation through precision agriculture techniques as an efficient and innovative management strategy. The primary target audience will be companies, business associations, and professionals linked to the agricultural and livestock sector, as well as public administrations related to agriculture, livestock, the environment, and rural development. However, the dissemination will be aimed at the general public and end consumers interested in the topic. The goal is to achieve both national and international reach through websites, press coverage, informative articles, social media, blogs, and email, among other channels.