Municipality and Farms – Farm biorefinery

The showcase (showcase 11) is based in Germany / Lower-Saxony. Gräflich Bernstorffsche Betriebe (GBB) will supervise a demonstration project together with Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH). Drawing also on the expertise of other partners. The showcase is based on the GBB areas of organic farming, pasture management and sustainable forestry. The aim is to further develop internal operations and cycles. One of the main aspects is the farm's own composting system with rotating windrows to prevent nitrate leaching. In addition, the use of the farm's own microplastic-free substrates as a co-substrate for its own cattle manure is being investigated. The focus here is on clippings from landscape conservation areas. Other topics include the effective continuation of the biogas plant with new substrates and the applicability of compost tea for soil improvement. The farm demonstrates a sustainable approach considering economy and ecology.

Contacts:

Ina Körner (TUHH):i.koerner@tuhh.de

Claas Boysen (GBB):claas.boysen@tuhh.de

Carl-Phillip Dicke-Wentrupp (GBB): dw@bernstorff.de

Fried Graf von Bernstorff (GBB): fried@bernstorff.de

Current situation

The showcase location is divided in 6 major sites:

sustainable forest with around 70 tree species,
agricultural production of crops and vegetables following the Bioland association principles,
grassland with about 80 cattles,
composting of cattle manure in an moving open field system (windrows of 70 - 100 m length with regular turning and irrigation) with co-substrates,
biogas facility with heat and power unit using maize and manure
as well as nature protection areas.

Gräflich Bernstorffsche Betriebe focuses on advancing sustainable management by optimizing bioresource flows. For composting perspectives are seen in using underused co-substrates available on the farm. The subvention scheme of the biogas facility runs out in 2025. A change of operation and technology is a possibility. This includes inputs like clover grass, flower mixtures, more cattle manure and external substrates e.g. from a juice producer. Plans for upgrading biogas to biomethane and -CO₂ are made, but implementation faces challenges due to policy barriers, such as subsidies for natural gas and low CO₂ pricing.