The I3-4-BIOFERTILIZERS consortium gathered in Bologna, Italy, for its General Assembly, bringing together partners to discuss the future of sustainable fertilisers, circular bioeconomy solutions and European regulatory developments. Hosted by Agrienergia, the two-day meeting combined technical field visits, project progress discussions and a dedicated workshop focused on the evolving EU framework for fertilising products.
The General Assembly took place at “ExDynamo, la Velostazione“, a former war bunker at the hearth of the city of Bologna that has been transformed into a vibrant hub for innovation, culture and collaborative events, providing an ideal setting for discussions on sustainability and green transition.
The event opened with two consecutive technical visits showcasing innovative circular economy practices in the agricultural sector. The first visit took participants to the Agrienergia facility, where consortium members explored integrated organic waste treatment processes including anaerobic digestion, composting and biochar-enhanced compost production. The visit highlighted innovative fertiliser formulations developed within circular bioeconomy initiatives, with a focus on nutrient recovery, compost enrichment strategies and the integration of biochar to improve soil quality and reduce dependence on mineral fertilisers.
The second visit brought participants to the AFE – Associazione Frutticoltori Estensi facility in the Ferrara area, where a pilot biochar production plant developed in collaboration with BioKW is transforming pruning residues and agricultural by-products into high-value resources. Within the framework of the I3-4-BIOFERTILISERS project, Agrienergia collaborates with AFE by integrating biochar into composting processes to improve nutrient retention, increase soil organic carbon, enhance water holding capacity and support long-term carbon sequestration. The initiative represents a concrete example of circular bioeconomy applied to sustainable agriculture and organic waste valorisation.
Following the field visits, consortium partners gathered for project progress updates, work package presentations and discussions on the next steps of the initiative. The programme concluded with the workshop entitled “EU Fertiliser Regulation (FPR 1009/2019): Opportunities and Challenges, Biostimulants and Upcoming Updates.” The session explored the implementation of the EU Fertilising Products Regulation, upcoming SOA standards and new regulatory developments currently under discussion at European level. The workshop featured a keynote contribution from Mariano Alessio Vernì, Vice-President of SILC Fertilizzanti, who shared his extensive expertise on European fertiliser legislation and sustainable fertilisation practices.
“Hosting the General Assembly in Bologna was an important opportunity to demonstrate how circular economy approaches can generate tangible environmental and agronomic benefits for the agricultural sector,” said Federico De Nardo of Agrienergia. “The exchange of ideas among partners was extremely positive and confirmed the value of collaboration in accelerating the transition towards more sustainable and resilient farming systems.”
