project - EIP-AGRI Operational Group
Basic silicate rock by-product: a new agricultural input that captures CO2
Basic silicate rock by-product: a new agricultural input that captures CO2
Objectives
Basic silicate rocks originating from the quarrying sector have recently gained product approval for use in organic farming as a soil input. This project aims to collect data and present innovative features of this agricultural input, which comprise long term soil and plant remineralisation and carbon sequestration and storage (CSS) capacities, to the wider agricultural community to encourage innovation within the Scottish agricultural sector towards improving soil and plant performance coupled with climate mitigation.
Objectives
The project intends to showcase land scale initiative applciation of basic silicate rock at Rotmell Farm in Highland Perthshire, a pioneer in the application of crushed silicate rocks on agricultural land, to a pilot group community of Scottish farmers with the aim of demonstarting to them 1. measured plant and soil performance in land following the applicaiton of basic silicate rocj in comparison to other fertilisers, 2. measured land CO2 sequestration capacity following the application of basic silicate rocks, and 3. a free and user-friendly mobile phone app suitable for farmers to assess potential of their agricultural production and CSS capacity after applying basic silicate rocks,
Activities
This project proposes two activities: 1. Land scale case study: monitoring soil, plant and atmospheric parameters at Rotmell Farm after application of basic silicate rocks, and 2. Encourage the adoption of this new soil input to the wider agricutlural commnuity by demonstrating the value of scientific data, provide farmers with the experience gained from Rotmell Farm to encourage basic silicate rocks as an investment in carbon sequestration potential, and as part of disseminating this to develop a mobile phone app for farmer use and the facilitation of a farmer network to assess and review the use of the silicate rock product.
Activities
This project proposes two activities: 1. Land scale case study: monitoring soil, plant and atmospheric parameters at Rotmell Farm after application of basic silicate rocks, and 2. Encourage the adoption of this new soil input to the wider agricutlural commnuity by demonstrating the value of scientific data, provide farmers with the experience gained from Rotmell Farm to encourage basic silicate rocks as an investment in carbon sequestration potential, and as part of disseminating this to develop a mobile phone app for farmer use and the facilitation of a farmer network to assess and review the use of the silicate rock product.
Contexte
This project is aligned with EU and SRDP ambitions to restore, preserve and enhance biodiveristy, habitats and ecosystems, as well as mitigate climate change attributed to agricultural production: 1. By measuring in-situ changes in soil and plant ecosystems and assessing the potential enhancement of agricultural land performanace and sustainability, 2. build on the evidence of the CO2 sequestration function on agricultural grazing land, and reduce the sector's carbon footprint, and 3. employing collaborative relationships between farmers, farming organisations and Higher Education institutions to disseminate findings to the wider agricultural community.
Project details
- Main funding source
- Rural development 2014-2020 for Operational Groups
- Rural Development Programme
- 2014UK06RDRP003 United Kingdom - Rural Development Programme (Regional) - Scotland
Emplacement
- Main geographical location
- Perth & Kinross and Stirling
- Other geographical location
- Angus and Dundee City, Clackmannanshire and Fife
€ 75440
Total budget
Total contributions from EAFRD, national co-financing, additional national financing and other financing.
Project keyword
Contacts
Project coordinator
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Debs Roberts
Project coordinator
Project partners
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Alexander Brewster
Project partner
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Carla Casas
Project partner
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Dr Alexander Graf
Project partner
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Dr Alexandra Morel
Project partner
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Dr Ehsan Jorat
Project partner
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Dr Matt Aitkenhead
Project partner
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Emily Grant
Project partner