The chairman of the co-management committee of the Serra de São Mamede Natural Park (PNSSM), António Pita, explained to Lusa agency that the project, “Boa Terra”, was presented to the entity by a German couple residing in the protected area.
“The couple has lived in Marvão for about a year and presented this very simple but pioneering project in the country to the commission”, which already exists in countries like Germany, he revealed.
The project, “basically, uses the wool from slaughtered animals, turning it into 'pellets' as soil fertilisers”, he added.
For António Pita, who is also mayor of Castelo de Vide, the “great advantage” of this initiative is the use of a by-product of the animal that, often, “has no value and is not used”.
Contacted by Lusa, the company's spokesman, Ricardo Oliveira, explained that the wool is transformed into biological fertilisers through a machine that grinds this product of animal origin.
“The machine will shred the wool into pieces, between four and seven millimeters”, he said, noting that the product is then “compacted at high pressure and sanitized at a temperature of 100 degrees”.
Ricardo Oliveira also explained that the product can then be applied directly to the soil.
According to the official, the project involves an investment “below €250,000 euros” and should be fully operational from June, and create “four to five jobs”.
The president of the PNSSM co-management committee considered that the project has “the great merit” of complying with the principles of environmental sustainability, without producing “any harmful waste” for the environment.
The company is currently obtaining the respective licenses and expects to obtain the certification of a sustainable and organic product.
“The PNSSM welcomes” the coming to the region of this “type of project”, especially those that may have “the natural.pt seal, which is an environmental seal of a product made in a protected area”, said António Pita.