CloverValue

Organic crop production has limited access to nutrients, relies on conventional fertilizers, and has a high climate impact per unit of production. CloverValue aims to increase yields and reduce climate impact by improving nutrient supply based on nitrogen from nitrogen-fixing plants. Clover makes nitrogen available to crops and is valorized through biogasification. The goal is to develop plant-based fertilizers, investigate value chain barriers and motivations, and evaluate the biogenic carbon flow. By doing this, the project will save 145,000 tons of CO2e per year for every new 30,000 hectares of clover grass bred for biogas.

The project step by step 

CloverValue will:

• identify key stakeholders' barriers and motivations, and investigate the main agronomic and economic advantages and disadvantages
• optimize and investigate plant-based biogas through separation and reactor trials
• examine plants' nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus uptake from plant-based biogas fertilizers
• optimize biogas processes for nitrogen availability and carbon storage in the soil
• economically optimize the nutrient resource for the organic sector
• assess economic and climate impact as motivation for organic farmers.

The project provides a comprehensive overview of the possibilities for increasing nutrient supply through breeding organic clover grass for biogas, thereby significantly reducing climate impact and strengthening the economic foundation of organic production.