Floralves Field Day Highlights Innovation in By-product Utilization with the FeedValue Project

On May 6, 2025, Floralves organized a Field Day in Vila do Conde as part of the FeedValue project, bringing together experts, farmers, researchers, and companies to promote innovative and sustainable alternatives for agriculture and livestock production.

The event began with a presentation of the FeedValue project by Dr. Maria José Marques Gomes from the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), who highlighted ongoing efforts to valorize agro-industrial by-products for the production of more sustainable fertilizers and animal feeds. This was followed by a presentation from Pedro Carreiro of AgriStarBio, who introduced Activity 5.1 of the project, focused on the development and application of organic fertilizers, with an emphasis on their effectiveness within the project context.

Food4Sustainability CoLAB was also represented, with Catarina Conrado and Jorge Antunes presenting the results of the pilot tests under Action Line 5.1 – FertValue. Their contribution focused on findings related to soil microbiology and the physicochemical parameters of the experimental plots. This approach aims to promote the use of by-products in the production of high-value-added feed and fertilizers, increasing agri-food resilience and productivity while directly contributing to reducing the sector’s environmental impact.

The day concluded with a visit to the experimental fields of Floralves and local farmer André Silva, where participants could see firsthand how the project’s innovative solutions are being implemented in the field.

The FeedValue project, funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), is coordinated by UTAD and involves several partner organizations, including INIAV, FeedInov, Food4Sustainability, AgriStarBio, and other key players in the agri-food sector. The initiative aims to develop circular and sustainable solutions for the use of by-products in animal nutrition and soil fertilization.

This Field Day underscored the importance of collaboration between science, businesses, and producers in tackling sustainability challenges in the Portuguese agricultural sector.