Creating Compsoting Insights for Foodwastes : Research-
based Program with a Global Perspective
1.0 Introduction:
A program is planned to generate a research-based insight for composting process involving
different segment of people from different geographical locations across the globe.
Composting is a controlled, aerobic (oxygen-required) process that converts organic
materials into a nutrient-rich, biologically stable soil amendment or mulch through natural
decomposition. Microorganisms feed on the materials added to the organic material pile
during the composting process. The end product is compost. Compost is a mixture of
ingredients used as plant fertilizer and to improve soil's physical, chemical, and biological
properties.
Food-related biowaste is not dumped in landfills in a circular economy. Rather, it
decomposes into compost, which serves as a resource for fertilizers, organic soil enhancers,
and bio-based products. Organic fertilizers for soil are created from bio-waste's carbon and
nutrient contents.
Compost contributes to climate adaptation and resilience in following respects:
Enhances a community's capacity to adjust to the negative effects of climate change by
assisting soil absorption and reducing pollutant runoff during floods. It also aids in
extending the time that soil can hold water, lessening the impact of drought.
Soil contains carbon sequestration, which lowers greenhouse gas emissions.
Promotes local, sustainable food production by utilizing food scraps and other organic
materials produced locally to make a beneficial soil amendment that promotes plant
growth.
2.0 Program Objective:
A program has been taken up to produce two types of composting, one with vegetable waste
and other with non-vegetarian waste in combination with vegetable wastes.
The program is planned to be executed in 4 places in India, Morocco, Benin and Austria by 4
teams, in almost similar calendar year time and with vegetarian and non-vegetarian wastes.
Place 1: Kanchenjunga, The Jalpaiguri Government Engineering College Alumni
Association, India
Place 2: Higher School of Technology of Agadir – Morocco
Place 3: Université Nationale des Sciences, Technologies, Ingénierie et Mathématiques
(UNSTIM Abomey). B.P. 2282, Goho Abomey, Abomey, 229, Benin
Place 4: Hirschenschlag, Niederoesterreich, Austria
During the composting life cycle, regular data such as pH value, moisture content will be
collected from the composting pit by all the teams. After the composting life cycle,
composting quality will be also measured by finding out nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium
content. All the collected data will be critically analysed to create larger insight of the
composting process.
People from different segments of society such as academics, students, researchers,
industry professionals, local small scale businesspersons and people from community will
participate in this endevour.
3.0 Program Activities:
a) Two pits (500 mm x 500 mm x 500 mm each) will be made on the ground.
b) Two different organic materials will be fed in the two pits separately:
Vegetable waste in one pit (say, pit 1)
Non-vegetarian waste in another pit (say, pit 2).
The layers of soil, food waste and dry leaf will be prepared as per Figure 1.
Figure 1: Composting Layers
c) The program Kick-off: Day 1 – when the layer of dry leaves will be created. Accordingly
depending on the availability of the food waste, the other layers will be created, till the
pits are filled in. The pit will be kept covered by any available material (such as sheet of
tin or wood). The cover need not to be airtight.
From Day 2, various data will be collected from the pit for 3 months, as per Table 1.
Date Moisture pH Ambient Ambient Ambient Water Material added
Content Valu Temp Humidity Rainfall added (soil/ food waste/
e (DegC) (yes, or leaves/ earthworm)
no)
Day 1
Day 2
I
I
↓
Day 90
Instrument to be used to collect moisture content and pH value: Soil pH Meter, 3-in-1
Soil Test Kit Moisture Light & pH Tester Acidity Hydroponic Tester.
d) After 3 months, composting quality parameters will be measured by finding out
"NPK" (i.e. nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium).
The primary ingredients of soil fertilizer are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
NPK are essential to contemporary farming methods and play a major role in
guaranteeing strong and healthy plant growth. They supply the vital nutrients—mainly
nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K)—those plants need to grow.
NPK data of the existing soil will also be collected to understand change in soil
parameters due to composting.
e) Data Analysis:
The data collected as per Table 1 and the NPK data will be reviewed and analyzed to
understand the change in physical parameters of the composting over the lifecycle of
the program. Also, the data will be critically analyzed to get more insight of the
composting process and the outcome.
The data of each team will be analyzed separately. Also, combined results will be
evaluated, and insights will be developed which will be valuable information for future
research work.
Program Team members:
Project Team 1:
Dr Amitava Rajib Bhaskar Gautam
Ray Bhattacharya Dasgupta Bhaduri
Project Guide Project Manager Project Promoter Project Mentor
Dr Debdeep
Sanjiban Das
Sikdar
Implementor Technologist
Nirjhar
Adrija Saha To be decided
Chakravorti
Lead - Researcher Team member
Place 1: Kanchenjunga, The Jalpaiguri Government Engineering College Alumni
Association, India
Project Team 2:
Safa Zaidouni
Project Manager
Mouad Lazrak Bouchra Chebli Ghita Ait Baddi Soukaina Kaoui
Lead - Researcher Lead - Researcher Lead - Researcher Lead - Researcher
Place 2: Higher School of Technology of Agadir – Morocco
Project Team 3:
Dr. Blalogoe Coucou Parfait
Project Manager & Guide
ABIBOU Azim Adegbini
Mohamed Adeoti
Lead - Researcher Lead - Researcher
Place 3: Université Nationale des Sciences, Technologies, Ingénierie et Mathématiques
(UNSTIM Abomey). B.P. 2282, Goho Abomey, Abomey, 229, Benin
Team 4:
Aleaxandra Katzian
Project Manager
Place 4: Hirschenschlag, Niederoesterreich, Austria
Data Analysis Global Team:
Key Team Members:
Dr. Amitava Ray, Dr. Blalogoe Coucou Parfait, Dr. Debdeep Sikdar, Safa Zaidouni,
Aleaxandra Katzian, Adrija Saha
Additional team members to be added as per requirements.
Global Core Team for the Program
Program Program Management Program Guide Data Analysis Lead
Coordination
Nirjhar Chakravorti Safa Zaidouni Dr. Amitava Ray Dr. Debdeep Sikdar
Rajib Bhattacharya Dr. Blalogoe Coucou
Parfait
Aleaxandra Katzian
Abibou Azim Mohamed
Program Schedule:
April May June - Aug ->Sept Oct -> Nov Dec
>July
Preparation of pits
Pit filling up with
food waste, soil, etc
Kick-off 6th May
Composting
duration
(Soil Data
Colelction)
Soil NPK testing
Data Analysis
Paper Preparation
