CIRCWOOL project turns wool waste into agricultural fertilizer to boost drought resilience
The CIRCWOOL project, coordinated by LEAF – Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture, and Food, a research unit of the TERRA Associate Laboratory, is developing innovative solutions to convert sheep wool waste into agricultural fertilizers, with a pilot application in Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo. The initiative was recently highlighted by agroportal.pt, Sapo, and Jornal O Interior.
LEAF is once again involved in projects that promote sustainability and the enhancement of endogenous resources. CIRCWOOL aims to transform sheep wool with no commercial value into agricultural products capable of improving soil fertility and mitigating the effects of drought. The initiative was one of the winning projects in the 7th edition of the Promove Competition, promoted by the “la Caixa” Foundation and BPI, in partnership with the Foundation for Science and Technology.
According to researcher Diego Arán, project coordinator and researcher at LEAF/TERRA, the wool accumulated by producers in the region represents both a problem and an opportunity. CIRCWOOL aims to respond to this need and will “strategically combine the exploration of new agricultural products and their analysis in field conditions with the evaluation of cooperation, valorization, and marketing strategies,” explained Diego Arán. “The agricultural products generated by the project will be tested to improve the soil of olive groves and pastures in the region, which face challenges in terms of fertility and water availability,” he added.
The pilot implementation in Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo is the result of close collaboration with the municipality and local associations of ruminant breeders, who have expressed concern about the growing volume of discarded wool. The project’s approach combines scientific knowledge, technological innovation, and community involvement, reinforcing the link between research and territory—one of TERRA’s strategic pillars.
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