WIR! - Physics for Food: Physics & Ecology
Validation of physical processes for water treatment, soil remediation and crop production
Duration from 1.9.2023 - 31.12.2025, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) under the funding code (FKZ) 03WIR2816A.
The use of agricultural chemicals, especially pesticides and fertilizers, is a prerequisite for the high-yield cultivation of crops and fodder plants and thus for the comprehensive supply of affordable food. The associated environmental impact and possible risks for consumers are being viewed with increasing concern. As part of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research's "Change through innovation in the region" initiative, the "Physics for Food" project has therefore set itself the goal of investigating and establishing physical methods as an alternative to chemical processes. In various lead projects, possibilities for seed treatment, for the promotion of plant growth and health in the field, as well as for the storage of field products and their processing are being investigated. Further information on the overall project and the individual lead projects can be found here: physicsforfood.org.
The lead project "Physics & Ecology" directly addresses the objectives of the overall project to create the basis for a more residue-free and environmentally friendly agriculture and agricultural production. To this end, the approaches developed and tested in the first funding phase in "Physics for Environment" for the treatment of wastewater from agricultural production processes will be taken up and transferred to other applications. These include the treatment of spray agent residues, field drainage water and silage seepage water as well as the treatment of rainwater and process wastewater for use in agricultural processes, e.g. as cooling or process water, or for agricultural irrigation. Based on the work in the lead project "Physics for Cropping Systems", the use of plasma-treated rainwater or process water for crop cultivation and the effects on soil quality will be investigated in particular. In addition, other possible applications for the use of physical technologies for the remediation of (agricultural) soils and for the provision of organic fertilizers based on biomass, e.g. green waste, are being considered and investigated. Together with the INP, Harbauer GmbH, Berlin, and Ultrawaves Wasser- & Umwelttechnologien GmbH, Karlsbad-Ittersbach, are constructing test facilities with which various physical processes can be validated for the different applications. Furthermore, the effects of the application of physical technologies on plant growth and soil quality will be assessed. In addition to these funded partners, other relevant stakeholders and end users (Power Recycling Energyservice GmbH, Neubrandenburg, ABiTEP GmbH, Berlin, Braumanufaktur Ludwigslust GmbH & Co. KG, WF Milch GmbH, Wittstock/Freyenstein, Karls Markt OHG, Rövershagen, Agroscope, Switzerland) by granting access to their production facilities and actively supporting investigations into their specific fields of application or accompanying the work in the project in an advisory capacity. The experience gained will be used to explicitly derive technologies and systems that respond to the needs of agricultural operations in order to enable the sustainable use of water and soil.
