project - EIP-AGRI Operational Group
2017-002 - VALORIZATION OF LATXA SHEEP'S WOOL
Objectives
Currently, the raw wool of latxa sheep is a waste of difficult management that only generates expenses. With the start-up of this project it is intended to give a stable output to the total volume of the wool of "latxa" breed herds, taking advantage of the specificity of this wool that makes it unique.
Thanks to its natural keratin content, and being able to treat it without solvents, Latxa wool allows obtaining several prototypes of biodegradable and compostable ropes to be used as tutors of climbing plants in orchards and greenhouses.
Activities
Before promoting the production of this rope prototype, it will be necessary to carry out a management and design of wool supply that satisfies the business, quantitative and qualitative needs that establish the basis for organizing a work in the farms that planned and in conditions Just can properly supply the wool.
Project details
- Main funding source
- Rural development 2014-2020 for Operational Groups
- Rural Development Programme
- 2014ES06RDRP015 Spain - Rural Development Programme (Regional) - País Vasco
Ort
- Main geographical location
- Guipúzcoa
- Other geographical location
- Álava, Vizcaya
EUR 127 942.00
Total budget
Total contributions from EAFRD, national co-financing, additional national financing and other financing.
2 Practice Abstracts
Biodegradable pots: In Ekolber, biodegradable pots have been produced by injection molding with which satisfactory field tests have also been carried out. Hopefully, planters with wool could work the same or better. In addition to the inclusion of wool, the contribution of organic nitrogen, desirable in crops, would be reinforced. The first formulation used for the quilts is used: 50ppcc wool and 25ppcc glycerin. But to reduce the viscosity in the face of a good filling of the mold in the injector, the fluidity is readjusted to higher values by grazing the mixtures and adding 7-15% more water in concrete mixer. Glycerin levels are not touched so that the final stiffness of the pot is similar to those of polyethylene on the market. It is interesting to know how the pot evolves in nursery conditions to verify that the wool provides structure, but there is still growth of organisms that weaken it and hinder its commercialization.
The impossibility of obtaining a rope with the technical features and commercial possibilities during the course of the project made us opt for another final product towards one of lower demands in terms of traction and elasticity.
We decided on the plastic padding and pots given its lower need for resistance and because its use is not subject to continued attraction and, therefore, there is no risk of unwanted elongation.
Previous studies have been carried out with film obtained with collagen-coffee mixtures that have given positive results in field tests: collagen is a source of organic nitrogen and therefore fertilizer.
The main component of wool is keratin (organic nitrogen source as well), which, in addition to greater water resistance, the contribution of nutrients to the earth is expected to increase.
The Ekolber extruder is laboratory and the inflation-collection system is manual, so the dimensions of the films are small and not regular. Therefore, blown film tests are carried out at a research center in Zaragoza, AITIIP. The mixtures used are the following, adding coffee as a predator repellent:
• Coffee-biochar-wool. .
• Biochar-wool.
• Coffee-wool.
• Coffee.
The response of the material as anti-weed mesh was very good preventing the proliferation of weeds in the crop, however a problem appeared. The blade was very attractive to the fauna of the area. This fact was diminished when the sheet had coffee in its composition. All samples are unstable and reactive and tests need to be expanded.
Contacts
Project coordinator
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LATXA ESNEA KOOP
Project coordinator
Project partners
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ARABALANDA- FEDERACIÓN DE ASOCIACIONES DE DESARROLLO RURAL DE ALAVA
Project partner
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BIZKAIMENDI- FEDERACIÓN DE ASOCIACIONES DE DESARROLLO RURAL DE BIZKAIA
Project partner
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EKOLBER. Ingeniería del caucho y plástico de colágeno S.L.
Project partner
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LANDAOLA, FEDERACIÓN DE ASOCIACIONES DE DESARROLLO RURAL DE GIPUZKOA
Project partner
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NEIKER TECNALIA. INSTITUTO VASCO DE INVESTIGACIÓN Y DESARROLLO AGRARIO S.A.
Project partner