Agro&Blauw

With the support of:

In this Research and Development project, Hellowater, Akwadok, Wolfcarius Quality Fruit and Vanderhaegen Potatoes are collaborating to investigate the potential of green-grey water treatment technology based on IOCS granules (Iron Oxide Coated Sand granules) to remove phosphate from wastewater generated by agri-food companies. This will enable treated water to be safely discharged or reused.

Why this project?

Water stress is a growing challenge in Flanders. The availability of high-quality water is under increasing pressure, while water is essential for agri-food companies. At the same time, these companies face increasingly stringent discharge regulations and the need to operate more sustainably. To address these challenges, the project focuses on the further research and development of tailor-made green-grey water treatment systems for companies in the agri-food sector.

Research approach and expected results

Agro&Blauw is a research and development project in which companies from different sectors work together to achieve a common goal. The consortium consists of Hellowater and Akwadok as water treatment experts and Wolfcarius Quality Fruit and Vanderhaegen Potatoes as agri-food companies.

Hellowater’s green-grey water treatment system will be further developed, first at laboratory scale and subsequently at the sites of the two agri-food companies. Each company faces its own specific challenges regarding phosphorus loading and water reuse. The data collected throughout the project on (treated) wastewater will serve as input for and validation of a predictive model. The objective of this model is to enable the efficient and rapid determination of customised filter characteristics for agri-food companies in the future.

Throughout the project, the companies will be supported by VEG-i-TEC UGent as a research partner, drawing on its extensive expertise in water use and reuse within the agri-food sector.

Target group

The project is being carried out by a closed consortium of companies with support from UGent VEG-i-TEC as the research partner.

Project partners

Within this project, Hellowater, Akwadok, Wolfcarius Quality Fruit and Vanderhaegen Potatoes are joining forces to develop a green-grey water treatment system tailored to the needs of agri-food companies. UGent VEG-i-TEC and Flanders’ FOOD support the project.

Hellowater is the lead applicant of the project. Its green-grey water treatment technology will be further developed. With its knowledge and expertise in both the technology and water treatment in general, Hellowater coordinates the technical development.
Akwadok contributes as a technological expert in water treatment. Given its expertise in the potato processing industry, Akwadok will primarily support the Vanderhaegen Potatoes case.
Wolfcarius Quality Fruit and Vanderhaegen Potatoes provide practical insights as agri-food companies and make their facilities available for the implementation of pilot installations.
UGent VEG-i-TEC is responsible for the further development and laboratory-scale testing of the technology and advises the participating companies.
Flanders’ FOOD supports the coordination of the project and the valorisation of the project results. In addition, Flanders’ FOOD is responsible for the broad dissemination of the knowledge generated to the Flemish agri-food sector.