BioSubstrate 2.0 - Development and Demonstration of Bio-Based Growth Substrates
In Danish
Project period: August 1, 2022 – December 31, 2025
There is an urgent need for sustainable growth substrates to replace peat due to its climate impact and the slow regeneration of peatlands caused by peat extraction. The project aims to substitute 50% of peat use in Denmark by 2030.
The project builds on the GUDP project BioSubstrate 1.0 (2019–2021), which focused on substrate components individually. This project combines biomasses with complementary substrate properties and will develop and demonstrate substrate blends with 50–100% rapidly renewable biomass.
Project Activities
Various components are combined into mixed substrates to achieve the desired chemical, physical, and biological properties. The substrates are based on renewable biomass such as wood, willow, grass, grass fibers, and biofibers (digested fibers from biogas plants). Some of the materials require pre-treatment to achieve the desired properties, such as heat treatment, composting, or pyrolysis.
The project includes a series of cultivation trials, and cultivation practices such as irrigation and fertilization will be adapted to the properties of the new substrate blends. Positive effects, such as the potential disease-suppressing properties of the substrates, will be studied. Substrate blends will be demonstrated in various types of plant production: herbs, strawberries, ornamental plants, and nursery plants.
Both sustainability and business potential will be evaluated. The results will benefit the entire value chain, from substrate producers to the horticultural industry.
A video series focusing on individual substrate components has been produced during the project. Watch them here:
Lectures
As part of BioSubstrate 2.0 two international top researchers in bio-based growing media visited and gave a lecture about their work and research:
Brian Jackson, North Carolina State University, USA: "Innovations and advancements in alternative soilless growing media."
Bart Vandecasteele, ILVO, Belgium: "Increasing the circularity of growing media: the challenge of new materials and reuse."
Expected Impacts
Substituting 50% of Denmark's peat consumption will result in a reduction of 66,400 tons of CO2e/year. The use of sustainable biomass will reduce nitrogen leaching by 92 tons N/year and pesticide impact by 4,216 B/year. The expected economic effect is DKK 57.1 million/year.
Participants
- Danish Technological Institute (Project Leader)
- Aarhus University, Department of Agroecology
- Aarhus University, Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering
- Aarhus University, Department of Food Science
- HortiAdvice
- Pindstrup Mosebrug
- Ny Vraa Bioenergy
- Advanced Substrate Technology
- Økologihaven
- Hunsballe Grønt
- Knud Jepsen
- Gunnar Christensens Planteskole
The project is supported by GUDP - Green Development and Demonstration Programme.