Valorização Agronómica de Penas por Hidrólise e Vermicompostagem em Economia Circular

FEATHER-ACE main objective is to valorise agronomically poultry feathers, promoting circular economy principles. Utilizing feathers for agricultural feather-based products can help reduce the environmental burden associated with their disposal. Feathers are a common waste product in poultry processing industries, and FEATHER-ACE aims to divert them from landfills or incineration, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and pollution. Incorporating feather-based products into agricultural systems exemplifies circular economy principles by closing the loop on waste streams. Instead of being discarded as waste, feathers are repurposed into valuable resources, which, in turn, support crop production, thus creating a more sustainable and efficient agricultural system. Feathers are rich, among other nutrients, in nitrogen, a crucial element for plant growth. Thus, they can be used as an alternative source of nitrogen, offering a cost-effective alternative to synthetic fertilizers and contributing to reduce Portugal ́s dependence on third parties to meet current agricultural demands. By utilizing a waste product as a resource, farmers can reduce their reliance on expensive chemical inputs, while still maintaining or even improving soil fertility and crop productivity. Additionally, due to its nature, feather-based products show promise to be applied in organic farming. To address these objectives, FEATHER-ACE proposes to: 1- Test three different eco-friendly feather hydrolytic processes on the effectiveness of feather keratin breakdown; 2- Valorise through vermicomposting both feathers and feather hydrolysates; 3- Test add-value agronomic feather-based solutions; 4- Through Life-Cycle Assessment, evaluate environment and economic impacts of the proposal. FEATHER-ACE 1st goal aims to develop eco-friendly approaches for feather hydrolysis (sustainable chemistry), based on the use of organic acids from natural sources (apple and grape pomaces) and microorganisms. The agricultural value of feathers and its hydrolysates, as soil fertility enhancers, will be done by vermicomposting (2nd goal). While in the 3rd goal, the feather-based-products will be tested as plant bio-stimulants (hydrolysates) and fertilizers (vermicomposts). The last goal will provide information for decision making regarding the effectiveness of the processes. FEATHER-ACE will generate new sustainable alternatives for feather disposal and agricultural practices, particularly by addressing the demand for new products that can be used in organic farming.