CoopVitiLoop: towards a circular economy in the wine sector

Covides SCCL, together with Cevipe Cooperative Group and the Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives of Catalonia, together with the BETA Technological Centre, have initiated this project with the main objective of closing the carbon cycle in the wine sector by optimizing co-composting to sanitize and stabilize the waste and by-products obtained from the harvest, wine processing and wastewater treatment for subsequent application as biofertilizer.

From an environmental point of view, the technology wants to be designed taking into account the principles of circular economy. The environmental benefits of the application of this technology will be evaluated by means of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and will take into account both the impacts generated by the applied technology (residual emissions from the process) and the impacts derived from the application of the compound. In addition, the complete life cycle will be compared with different conventional livestock manure management treatments and chemical fertilization strategies.

The expected results of this project are:

• Obtaining optimal mixing ratios and optimal operating conditions that maximize efficiency and minimize gas emissions associated with different environmental loads.
• In situ treatment of the solid waste generated in a mobile pilot plant to evaluate the aerobic biodegradation process on a demonstration scale.
• To obtain a quality compound, stabilized and sanitized, with a high agronomic value following dynamics similar to those observed at pre-pilot scale.
• To know the effectiveness of fertilization with compost obtained from vineyard by-products on organic matter evolution, nutrient release and soil water retention capacity.

“Project funded through the Operation 16.01.01 of Cooperation for Innovation of the Rural Development Program of Catalonia 2014-2020.”

Link to the European Commission website dedicated to rural development.