Experimental biodiesel production in Eastern Macedonia on agricultural soil contaminated with heavy metals
Project Description
Aims and activities;
The overall aims of this project are to contribute towards cleaner environment, better human health and local economic development, through experimental production of biodiesel on farmland contaminated with heavy metals. The project invites every interested person to apply for participation in the farming activities, contributing his/her land and workforce; in other words, the project offers equal opportunity to both male and female farmers, as long as they are willing to commit to the successfulness of the project together with CRPRC „Studiorum“. The specific aim of this Project is experimental production of biodiesel from crops grown on the agricultural land contaminated with heavy metals. This would achieve multiple effects: soil decontamination by the method of phytoextraction; protection of human health by preventing consumption of contaminated food; effective utilization of the agricultural produce, that is otherwise unusable for human and livestock consumption and increasing the local economic development by contributing in the farmers’ budget with biodiesel that can be used instead of petrodiesel for the agricultural equipment. The project activities can be summarized as follows:
- selection of land in Eastern Macedonia and signing contracts with farmers;
- purchase of seeding material, fertilizers and pesticides and distribution of these materials to the farmers, based on contract;
- production of rapeseed crop by farmers, and collection of the yield by local partner of “Studiorum”;
- production of bidiesel in special equipment (oil press and biodiesel reactors);
- “payment” of the crop yield in biodiesel; and
- starting new cycle with new farmers (old ones serve as incubator)
Funds provided from own sources and third parties
In the above mentioned funding amounts, there are parts which are in-kind contributions from CRPRC “Studiorum” and other partners: Global Environmental Facility (GEF), JICA Study team working on screening the contaminated soil in Eastern Macedonia, etc.
Sustainability:
The costs that can/will incur after the completion of the project, include the electricity costs for running the oil pressing equipment. There is a commitment that this cost will be born by the farmers in their subsequent use of the equipment.
Timeframe of the Project
Start Date: November 01, 2006
End Date: March 31, 2008
Budget (37900 euro)
Additional information for the project:
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