Baltic Sea Case Study – Valorizing the Fish Waste
Baltic Sea pilot develops technology for industrial-scale biowaste fermentation unit, led by Nutriloop OÜ, and studies the end products´ potential in agriculture, led by Estonian Crop Research institution (ECRI).
The aim is to create an end-to-end solution for local biowaste valorization, which is especially relevant in today’s world, where NPK fertilizer prices are increasing while their supply is decreasing. Due to the increase in energy prices, NPK factories are closing down temporarily or permanently and some countries have even banned the export of certain fertilizers.[1]
In this context, food sovereignty is concerned with fully using local biowaste resources and directing them to agriculture.
Fish processing industry
The main focus of this case study is on the valorization of the fish waste, such as particles of flesh, skin, bones, entrails, viscera etc. At the moment, fish waste is a major problem for small-size fish processing companies, since selling it to the feed production does not pay off the transportation and conservation cost.
There is also a problem with the fish that is being caught from the lakes, but which is too small and needs to be thrown back to the water. Such fish die shortly after its release and pollute the lake water.
Since the volumes of fish waste alone are not enough for local solutions, it is beneficial to combine fish waste with other biowaste streams such as tree leaves and food waste from catering. It also enriches the fertilizing quality of the products.
On the agricultural side, ECRI will conduct a series of pot testing with the initial products that are liquid fertilizer, granules and vermicompost. Finally, the selected end-products will go to field testing. It is expected that the local fish processing industry, restaurants as well as farmers will benefit from such a circular model and that in the future, it will be exportable to the rest of Europe and world.
[1] Baffes, John; Koh, Wee Chian, World Bank Blogs. Soaring fertilizer prices add to inflationary pressures and food security concerns, November 15, 2021: https://blogs.worldbank.org/opendata/soaring-fertilizer-prices-add-inflationary-pressures-and-food-security-concerns (23.11.2021)
Testing of granules
Prototype building for biowaste fermentation
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