Agriculture is not only consuming a third of Europe’s water, but is also one of the major polluters and a major cause of water degradation in some regions across Europe. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and other nutrients are added to irrigation water to promote healthy plant growth and improve yields. However, not all nutrients are absorbed by the plants, and those in excess are washed into rivers and lakes.
Earth.Org spoke with José Luis Guzmán Sánchez, professor of automatic control and system engineering at the University of Almería and part of the team of EU-funded project REALM. The project converts the nutrient-rich wastewater from greenhouses into valuable products using microalgae.
“The microalgae absorb the nutrients and convert them into biomass, which can be utilised to produce bio-products such as bio-stimulants and biopesticides for agricultural purposes. This process not only purifies the water but also sustains the microalgae without requiring additional nutrients,” explained Sánchez.
