The NUTRIMAN Consortium consists of 14 high-quality partners and 4 associated partners from 8 EU countries. Every week, one of the partners in the NUTRIMAN thematic network will be introduced via an interview. This week it's the turn for Dolores Hildago from CARTIF's in Spain.
What kind of organisation is CARTIF?
CARTIF is a horizontal, private and non-profit technology center. Its mission is to offer innovative solutions to companies to improve their processes, systems and products, improving their competitiveness and creating new business opportunities.
What is your role in the NUTRIMAN project?
CARTIF will provide best practice interactive demonstrations and support dissemination and exploitation of the innovative research results in Spain, and more specifically, in Castilla y León region.
What about the NUTRIMAN project triggered your interest?
We are based in Castilla y León, a region where agriculture is the main economic activity. All the aspects related to nutrients management are a burning issue here.
Which barriers do you see in agriculture to implement new research findings?
Farmers in our region are very traditional and they do not open easily to innovations. Their knowledge about novel bio-based fertilizers is low and as a consequence, also their confidence in these products.
What nutrient management problems are farmers facing in Spain and Castilla y León?
Pig farms in some areas are producing overapplication of manure on surrounding land. This action is leading to pollution problems. Furthermore, chemical fertilizers are increasing their price, and this affects negatively to the economy of the agricultural sector in the region.
What do you expect to gain from NUTRIMAN?
Acquire knowledge and be able to spread this knowledge among farmers operating in our area of action.
What value/impact will the results from the project bring in your opinion?
Farmers and other target stakeholders will have easily understandable information available to take supported decisions about the use of secondary raw materials such as recycled phosphorus and nitrogen resources. This information is based on scientific facts and we, therefore, expect it will counter the distrust of the farmers in novel applications.
