Problems and opportunities

The poultry sector accounted for 40% of global meat production in 2020, with Spain ranking second as the largest producer of chicken meat and fifth as the largest producer of turkey meat in the European Union in 2021. Over the past 10 years, poultry-related meat production has increased by more than 10% for chicken and over 50% for turkey. This growth is linked to an increase in the amount of manure mixed with animal bedding materials, commonly referred to as poultry litter or turkey litter. As a result, it has become essential to harness the by-products generated in this activity for the benefit of the producers themselves, due to the environmental and economic issues they pose, as well as the potential they offer.

The most commonly employed strategy for this utilization is to apply this residue to agricultural soil as a nutrient contribution, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus. However, this practice can pose various environmental risks, as poor management may lead to serious pollution issues due to potentially harmful emissions affecting the air, soil, and water.

On the other hand, poultry farms also face a problem related to high mortality rates among the birds, which may be exacerbated by the lack of digitalisation of certain parameters influencing their well-being, such as the birds’ temperature, the concentration of ammonia accumulated inside the farm, and others.

In this context, the SIMBAV operational group was established, with the aim of promoting the modernization and enhancement of the poultry sector’s competitiveness through a strategy focused on the efficient management of its resources. The development of the SIMBAV project presents the following opportunities:

Energy valorization of waste from agricultural farms and related activities: The combustion or gasification of poultry litter, depending on its composition and calorific value, could help reduce the costs and environmental impact of farms, while simultaneously lowering the farm's energy consumption by meeting all or part of its energy demand. At the same time, it allows for the utilization of other high-potential local waste materials, such as vine pruning or recyclable waste from various agricultural operations.
Digitalisation of processes related to animal welfare: Digitization would provide insights into the functioning of the operation and facilitate decision-making by understanding its behavior under similar conditions in the past. This would enable the optimization of energy consumption and raw materials, while enhancing the knowledge of animal welfare and enabling the early detection of diseases.
Environmental, technical, and economic assessment resulting from the implementation of sustainable actions in the sector: The project will provide the sector and the related public administration with objective data regarding the potential environmental benefits of the strategies to be implemented. This will help reduce the level of uncertainty for producers by offering more precise information on the impact of introducing new technologies in their operations, as well as the feasibility of using sustainability strategies to enhance their competitiveness.

Therefore, SIMBAV seeks to promote the valorization of poultry and agricultural waste, fostering a circular economy and encouraging the sustainable use of resources while ensuring animal welfare. It also aims to reduce uncertainty within the sector regarding the technical requirements or economic implications associated with the implementation of sustainable strategies, which often represent a barrier to the adoption of innovative technologies.