June Newsletter 2020

Dear Cré Members,

We hope all is good with you and your families. The COVID 19 has made many people look at current practices and the European Commission is quickly updating and adapting current supports to aid the recovery. Over the years we have seen various things published by the Commission but a key cornerstone going forward is various plans built upon the New Green Deal. For example the Farm to Fork Strategy. The EU is now willing to pay farmers to sequester carbon in soils- which is a welcome development as compost and digestate will play a pivotal role in this. We have also heard of supports for biogas under the Green Deal – but we have not got the detail. Over the next while we will analyse all these new EU development and report back to you all with a summary.

During international compost awareness week we raised just under IK for GOAL  which will be used in famine relief by Goal in countries in Africa which are affected by COVID 19.  Thank you all for your donations.

In the next week it is highly likely a new Government will be formed between Fianna Fail, Fianna Gael and the Green Party, so we expect some changes to happen. The new waste policy is expected to be presented to the new Government at the end of June, but we suspect with a new Minister, they will make changes to it.

Unfortunately, our planned evening dinner on 5th of June with the BVOR – Dutch Biowaste Processors was cancelled- but it has been rearranged for 4th June 2021!

The consultation on the research project ‘To Develop National End of Waste Standards for Quality Compost and Digestate’ is open until 12th June. This project will likely lead to a long term plan of standards for the sector which might be enshrined in the new Irish Fertiliser Regulations. It is important stakeholders take part in the consultation.

Best Wishes
The Cré Team

Cré Activities in May 2020

• Cré DAC  had a board meeting on 18 May
• Percy represented Cré at the Waste Advisory Group zoom meetings 
• Percy made a presentation on food waste to the members of Compost Council of Canada
• Percy made a presentation on food waste at the World Biogas Association eFestival
• Cré Certification Ireland DAC has continued on with more compostable trials

To Develop National End of Waste Standards for Quality Compost and Digestate – Consultation till 12 June

Cré is seeking views on the Research Project ‘To Develop National End of Waste Standards for Quality Compost and Digestate’

In Ireland, there are no national End-of-Waste Criteria for quality compost and digestate derived from source-separated materials. In EPA licences for composting and anaerobic digestion (AD) plants, there is a quality standard as part of the licences, however in old licences the parameters and limit values vary considerably and in the recent licences the parameters and limit values have been adopted from the national compost standard I.S. 441 for compost but also for AD plants.

This project has examined best European practices as well as quality standards in Canada, America and Australia; and proposes an approach for End-of-Waste Criteria for compost and digestate in Ireland. In addition, the project has developed a quality standard for digestate and an updated compost standard, which are used as part of the End-of-Waste Criteria.

The project findings will inform the approach that should be taken to develop national End-of-Waste Criteria for compost and digestate in Ireland.

All submissions are welcome and will be considered in the finialisation of the report.

Confidential or commercially sensitive information should be clearly identified in your submission. By responding to the consultation, respondents consent to their name being shared with the steering committee.

Submissions must be made using this  template to the following email address: info@cre.ie
No other format will be accepted, this is to ensure we capture all the comments and to be able to consider them all in the context which they are submitted.

The consultation document can be downloaded here

The closing date for submissions is 5pm, Friday 12^th, June, 2020.

EU Farm to Fork & Biodiversity Strategies
The EC adopted the ‘Farm to Fork Strategy’ and the ‘Biodiversity strategy’. ”

H2020 Covid 19 Rapid Response call for Expressions of Interest: North/South partnering opportunity

The EU has launched a second special call for Expressions of interest to respond to Coronavirus. This is an urgent call with for expressions of interest for potential funding of €122m.  It has a short closing date of 11 June. InterTradeIreland together with the H2020 National Support Network in Ireland and the Northern Ireland H2020 Contact Points is hosting a bespoke north-south partnering platform which will enable stakeholders from across the island to connect with potential partners for this special call. Meetings slots are available throughout Monday 25^th May until Wednesday 10^th June from 09:00hrs – 17:00hrs (GMT/UTC+1) This call is aimed primarily at innovative SMEs and researchers.  To register for the partnering platform and to find out if your area of expertise fits within the call requirements go to https://h2020-2-covid19.meeting-mojo.com/register

European Biogas Association Annual Conference

EBA is pleased to invite you to the next edition of the European Biogas Conference that will take place on 2 and 3 September 2020 at THE EGG Conference Center, in Brussels. Preliminary programme updates: We are pleased to announce the participation of new speakers at the conference and the full confirmation of some of the sessions. The latest confirmations include  keynote speaker, MEP Morten Helveg Petersen from Denmark. DOWNLOAD PRELIMINARY PROGRAMME

Vogelsang Ireland availability of free 3D data 
In the recent months Vogelsang  have developed special FREE downloadable 3D data for individuals and companies to print their own respiratory masks. This comes together at the time of this Phase 1 of reopening where the Irish Government are recommending the use of face masks. Vogelsang Ireland wants to make a small contribution in helping reduce the risk of infection of the Irish population. As a partner to the biogas sector, this is an opportunity to promote this initiative and availability of free 3D data to your readers.
https://mcusercontent.com/076585c5f16b21983db227c33/files/15fa6628-249e-473e-aa4f-1ffaa6a6f5cc/PR_Printing_against_Corona__05_2020.pdf
FACE MASK
3D Printer

LIFE Information Day 2020

The LIFE National Contact Point in the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (DCCAE) is hosting Ireland’s LIFE Information Day 2020, on Wednesday 10 June 2020 from 09.00 until 12.00. Find out about EU funding opportunities for environment, nature and climate action projects, with presentations on the day from DCCAE, the Commission and successful applicants followed by a Questions and Answers Session. The event will take place as a live Webinar via Zoom, you can register for the event by clicking the link below.
https://secure.dccae.gov.ie/forms/Survey.aspx?s=931a0efbe4ba4a9bba63869ae446df27 

Innovation Fund
The Commission (DG CLIMA) is working towards the early  launch of the first call for proposals under the Innovation Fund. It is anticipated a further meeting of the Expert Group in June with a view to finalising the approach  and timelines. DG CLIMA has  just published a first set of Frequently Asked Questions<https://ec.europa.eu/clima/sites/clima/files/innovation-fund/faq_1_en.pdf> on the application process for the Innovation Fund first call for proposals. The document covers multiple topics such as key features of the first call, applicant profile, application and evaluation procedures, project development assistance, grant award and disbursement, knowledge sharing, implementation of the Innovation Fund and State aid, co-financing and synergies. Further new  relevant information is  published on the DG CLIMA  website

Two New Factsheets on the Sustainable Use of Compost Published
The European Compost Network has published two new factsheets on ‘Soil Structure & Carbon Storage’ and on ‘Soil Fertility & Productivity’ in its publication edition on the ‘Sustainable Use of Compost and digestate’.
 
Soil Structure & Carbon Storage
This factsheet puts the focus on the benefit of regular application of compost in respect to the sequestration of high amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Amongst other positive aspects of compost application which are highligthed in this paper the enrichment of soil-organic matter leads to improved soil structure and a higher level of soil microbiological activity. An estimation about Europe’s potential for C-sequestration by recycling of bio-waste to high-quality compost illustrates the importance of this resource.
 
Soil Fertility & Productivity
The rising of the nutrient level is emphasized in the second factsheet. High-qualitity compost from bio-waste is described as a valuable resource for nutrients and has many other positive effects on soils. In this paper Europe’s potential of fertiliser value derived by high-quality compost from bio-waste (in Euro) is estimated and shows the positive economic aspect by these figures.

Besides the links below, the factsheets are available for download in the ‘publication’ section on the ECN website and on the website of the S.O.S – Save organics in Soil-Initiative (Section: Documents).
Factsheet 1: Soil Structure and Carbon Storage can be accessed here.
Factsheet 2: Soil Fertility and Productivity can be accessed here.

Irish Agribusiness ClonBio reports 95m pretax profit for 2019
https://www.irishtimes.com/business/agribusiness-and-food/irish-agribusiness-clonbio-reports-95m-pretax-profit-for-2019-1.4261328

Anaerobic digestion of poultry litter – A consequential life cycle assessment – ScienceDirect
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969720330114

Acceptability and Societal Impact of the Introduction of Bioplastics as Novel Environmentally Friendly Packaging Materials in Ireland

Weltec Biopower to build 500 kW biogas plant in Greece
Weltec Biopower is to build a biogas plant in Veria, Greece, this summer. The main investor and operator of the project is one of the largest abattoirs for cows and pigs in Greece. The 500 kW plant, which Weltec has planned in partnership with its Greek partner, Tetoros Machinery, is set to go live in mid-November.

Methane emission mitigation strategies
In the framework of the EvEmBi project, the EBA has prepared an information sheet titled ‘Methane emission mitigation strategies’.The biogas technology delivers renewable energy in form of biogas and contributes to climate protection. However, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in form of methane can be emitted into the air, due to leakages or special events in operation. Within this information sheet, EBA states, besides various positive effects of using biogas, the importance of minimizing the methane emissions from biogas industry. To this aim, this information sheet summarizes potential emission sources and addresses how to minimize methane emissions from biogas plants. Please download the information sheet here.

MaREI Biogas Presentations
MaREI, the SFI Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine was delighted to host a researcher led Gaseous Biofuel Symposium on the 29 April 2020. All 24 presentations from researchers are available to view by video @MaREIcentre on several subjects that should interest anyone involved in the fields of bioenergy, biofuels, biogas & biomethane. Presenters from ERI, UCC, Ryan Institute, NUIG & Trinity

Evidence collected by EBA shows positive impact of sequential cropping

European Commission adopted last week the biodiversity strategy for 2030 and the farm to fork strategy. A paper released the same day by EBA collected evidence on the benefits of biogas production based on sequential cropping to decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, protect biodiversity and restore soil quality.
Download full paper

BBI Funded Projects

The BBI JU has signed grant agreements with the projects selected for funding under the 2019 Call for proposals. The 22 new projects will receive financial support worth €106 million and bring the total of BBI JU grants to 123. 218 beneficiaries from 27 EU Member States and associated countries will take part in the projects.
https://www.bbi-europe.eu/projects

Rediscovery Centre Webinar
On 7^th May, the Rediscovery Centre, together with the EPA, hosted a webinar on the European Commission’s Circular Economy Action Plan. The webinar included a stimulating and exciting discussion with Philip Nugent, Ladeja Godina Košir and Cillian Lohan. If you missed it, the session was recorded and can be watched here. Two shorter videos are also available, including a summary of Webinar Highlights and The Circular Economy and Social Enterprise.

Meath farm strives to become carbon neutral
Watch and listen to ‘Co Meath farm strives to become carbon neutral’ – Click Here

Seaweed Supplement Reduces Methane
https://www.dulabio.com/blog/an-irish-seaweed-supplement-that-reduces-methane-emissions-from-livestock

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