Research project Renewable growing media for soft fruits, mushrooms and ornamentals
General introduction
Replacing peat substitutes with renawable alternatives is an important challenge for the horticultural sector. The objective of this project is the transition to sustainable horticultural substrates with 30 to 50% peat replacement, without a loss of competitiveness for the grower and the substrate producer. This transition will be necessary to be less depending on the increasingly scarce and expensive peat. This project should offer growers alternatives that allow to maintain their profitability in the long term. In this way, the competitiveness of the Flemish sector will be maintained and its resilience to geopolitical factors will be strengthened.
Research approach
An overview will be made of potential biomass types for peat replacement with their physicochemical and biological properties and relevant sustainability aspects such as availability, cost price, energy requirements, and risk of market disruption. Screening tests for crops with selected peat alternatives are carried out. These practical tests will use advanced measuring techniques and sensors. This results in demonstration tests and a user guide with cultivation instructions for the grower to apply the correct cultivation technique when using the new peat-reduced horticultural substrate.
Relevance/Valorization
The use of peat is under pressure due to the environmental impact of peat extraction. Peatlands are important for biodiversity and they are significant carbon sinks and water reservoirs (Blue Deal) for the earth. In various European countries, policy initiatives or commitments from the horticultural sector regarding peat replacement have been planned or approved. These initiatives are accompanied by research into alternatives to peat, the sustainability and technical feasibility of peat alternatives, and the use of new horticultural substrates by the sector. ALTER-PEAT's ambition to replace at least 30% peat for professional cultivation by 2027 provides the sector with the expertise to move towards a higher peat replacement rate after 2027.
