September 13, 2011, Winnipeg, Man – Converting waste into useful value-added products will be the focus of the University of Manitoba's new agricultural byproducts processing and demonstration facility.
September 13, 2011, Winnipeg, Man – Converting waste into useful value-added products will be the focus of the University of Manitoba's new agricultural byproducts processing and demonstration facility.
Construction of the facility, located at the Glenlea Research Station, kicked off in summer 2011. Construction of the open composting pad is expected to be completed in fall 2011. That will be followed by construction of a covered facility for controlled research, with the facility is expected to be fully operational by 2012.
Christine Rawluk, research development coordinator with the National Centre for Livestock and the Environment (NCLE), says the facility offers options for handling waste materials such as liquid and solid manure, mortalities, and other byproducts of bioprocessing, whether it's from fibre or biofuel waste.
"Instead of thinking of these materials as waste, we want to convert them into a product that has value and that will improve the value of those wastes and improve the economic viability of managing those materials," says Rawluk. "We're looking to tie the use of this facility into specific demonstration days, partnering on field clinics, and training opportunities where we can just make the most use of this facility for whoever might find value in it," she adds.
