Workshop - Carbon, Nutrient, and Energy Recovery Pathways I & II

Organised by: Annett Pollex - Working Group Climate Resilient Water-Energy-Food Systems at DBFZ German Biomass Research Center (DE)

Biomass and waste conversion can generate more than energy: thermochemical processes such as pyrolysis provide biochar and heat energy, while a wide range of biomass and organic waste streams can be valorized for nutrient recovery and agricultural use. Biochar offers a particularly promising link between energy and material recovery, combining heat energy utilization options e.g. for district heatingn with carbon sequestration and use cases as soil amendment.
Biofertilizers are increasingly gaining attention as resilient bioeconomy approaches. Produced from locally available biomass residues, and organic waste streams, they can help to close nutrient cycles, reduce resource dependency, and restore soil fertility. In particular, they can counteract soil degradation caused by continuous nutrient extraction and declining soil organic carbon, while supporting integrated soil fertility management and food security.
When combined with biochar, the resulting biochar-based organic fertilizers can contribute to reduced soil acidification, limited nutrient leaching and enhanced long-term carbon sequestration. Carbon financing mechanisms that enable smallholder revenue-sharing, such as the Artisan C-Sink certification, can further improve economic viability in particular in the Global South.
The workshop will discuss challenges, enabling conditions, and successful implementation examples of integrated biomass- and waste-based resource recovery systems. It will explore how different biomass and waste streams, conversion technologies, and end-use pathways can be combined to maximize resource recovery and create locally appropriate circular systems.