The problem of small livestock farms
One of the main problems of small livestock farms lies in the difficulty of valuing the wool obtained after shearing the sheep. Currently, due to the difficulties in recovering it, not only is it not profitable, but it is considered a waste that generates an additional expense for livestock families. One of the solutions to enhance its recovery is its washing as a preparatory phase for different uses.
Washing wool
The wool washing process is regulated by European regulations due to its consumption of water and effluents. Large wool processing industries do not accept small batches such as these cases. Despite being technically feasible on a small scale, the maintenance of machinery, energy consumption and water problems continue to make small-scale wool washing unsustainable both economically and environmentally. This difficulty led to the abandonment of the practice of washing, thus causing livestock activities to choose to get rid of the product by transforming it into waste, entailing high management and treatment costs.
The aim of this project promoted by the City Council of Tagamanent is the implementation of a treatment system for small quantities of wool (450 kg/day) that at the same time incorporates energy and thermal systems from renewable sources, a low consumption of water not suitable for human consumption and an adequate treatment of wastewater. Due to its characteristics, the system could be replicated in other parts of the territory, allowing other livestock farms in the territory to value their wool. This project is funded by the Catalan Waste Agency of Catalonia (ACR) with a grant of €531,000.
The role of Bioobost
Bioboost’s main mission is to accelerate bioeconomy projects in Catalonia that are systemic and benefit the territory by offering technical, business and financial, legal and facilitation services, according to the needs of each project and free of charge. In particular, the success of this project promoted by the City Council of Tagamanent is to generate a real opportunity to generate a significant change in the valorization of sheep wool, supposing a transition towards a more circular economic model.
To accelerate this initiative and after analysing in detail not only the needs of the project but also its entire ecosystem, Bioboost project has started by supporting the creation of a working team that gathers the entire value chain around wool. For this purpose, a first online working meeting was organized last May with the participation of different public and private entities. Currently, the organization of a second meeting is already in progress, this time face-to-face, where the aim is to have the participation of end users of clean wool.
On the other hand, Bioboost will provide support in the legal configuration of the management model of the washing plant and will provide support in the development of the business model to ensure the viability of the project.
