- Fundación Cajamar, Alejandro Faus and Javier Talavera are the other award winners in the categories of Initiative and Development, Professional Excellence and New Excellence respectively.
The College of Agricultural Engineers of Levante (COIAL) has awarded the LIFE STOR3E project, promoted by FACSA, in the Innovation category of the 6th FPIA Awards. The awards ceremony, held at the SH Valencia Palace Hotel, brought together 250 professionals from the sector.
The LIFE STO3RE project's main objective is to protect the environment from pollution caused by nitrates, pathogenic microorganisms, and organic micropollutants from wastewater treatment plant sludge and livestock byproducts. It also aims to develop a viable model for the joint management of sludge produced at wastewater treatment plants and manure, as opposed to other alternatives that generate a greater environmental impact.
The awards jury has emphasized that it is an efficient system for the valorization of waste and by-products, which implies the creation of value and, with it, employment.
Specifically, this process separates the main phases of anaerobic digestion to maximize biogas production and combines several pretreatments, such as ozonation and cavitation. This system yields, on the one hand, a high-quality biofertilizer and, on the other, biogas to power the joint co-digestion system for sludge and manure.
LIFE STO3RE is a European R&D&I project with a demonstrative focus. In addition to FACSA, ESAMUR, AINIA, IPROMA, and CEBAS-CSIC have participated in this project. The jury also highlighted the ongoing involvement of Agricultural Engineers in the development of this innovation, as well as its potential to open a new market and increase livestock numbers by reducing their environmental impact.
«At FACSA, a company with an innovative and technological focus, innovation is in our DNA. The key to our success in R&D&I lies in values such as creativity, teamwork, and motivation, which flow in perfect harmony throughout our workforce. This project, made possible through collaboration with four other partners, is a prime example. By establishing these values as the core of our R&D&I, we can achieve success in our main strategic areas. Therefore, receiving this award today is recognition of a job well done as a team, and further impetus to continue on the path we have chosen,» said Jose Claramonte, CEO of FACSA, upon receiving the award.
As for the other awards, Fundación Cajamar receives the Initiative and Development award for promoting a sustainable agri-food system, Alejandro Faus has been awarded the Professional Excellence award for his entrepreneurial work at the head of the Valencian multinational Projar and Javier Talavera, thanks to his engineering project to optimize water resources, obtains the New Excellence award.
