Economic Viability of Phytoremediation of a Cadmium Contaminated Agricultural Area Using Energy Maize. Part II: Economics of Anaerobic Digestion of Metal Contaminated Maize in Belgium

Abstract

This paper deals with remediation of the Campine soil, an agricultural area diffusely contaminated with heavy metals where most farmers rear dairy cattle and grow fodder maize. In part I of this study (Witters et al., xxx), the effect of switching from fodder to energy maize on the income of the farmer was calculated. Selling this energy maize as feedstock for anaerobic digestion to produce renewable energy could lead to a significant increase in the farmer's income. Part II explores the economic opportunities for the farmer of digesting the harvested contaminated biomass himself, by performing a Net Present Value (NPV) analysis concerning the digestion activity and by calculating the probability of a positive NPV of income resulting from the digestion installation. We investigate the trade off between the maximum price for energy maize that can be paid by the digestion activity and the minimum price that the farming activity needs to compensate for covering its production costs.Integrating the previous article in the actual analysis results in an increase of the total extra income for the farmer (i.e. from both growing energy maize and performing digestion).

Short-Rotation Coppice of Willow for Phytoremediation of a Metal-Contaminated Agricultural Area: A Sustainability Assessment

“…In Flanders (BE), agriculture could contribute to the 2008 proposal by converting idle land or land unsuitable for growing food and fodder crops into land grown with alternative nonfood energy crops. This contaminated biomass has potential as a renewable energy source [24, 55,65,66,77].…”

Phytoextraction of Cd-Contaminated Soils: Current Status and Future Challenges

“…According to Robinson et al (2006), in its pure form, Cd phytoextraction is presently a nonprofitable technology. However, there is evidence showing that Cd phytoextraction in combination with a profit-making operation could be an economically attractive option (Robinson et al, 2003; Thewys et al, 2010a, b). Such an argument does not necessarily prevail with stakeholders.…”

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi as a tool to ameliorate the phytoremediation potential of poplar: biochemical and molecular aspects

“…Alternative techniques for the clean-up of polluted soil and water, such as the cost-effective and less disruptive phytoremediation, have gained acceptance in recent years (Pilon-Smits 2005, Thewys et al 2010. Trees have been suggested as suitable for phytoremediation due to their high biomass production (Dickinson & Pulford 2005) and because tree plantations can be multi-purpose (Tognetti et al 2013).…”

“…HMs tend to accumulate in soils and aquatic sediments and can enter the food chain leading to the biomagnification phenomenon thereby representing a risk to the environment and to human health (Clijsters et al 1999). Some essential elements, such as copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn), may be present in soils and waters at potentially toxic levels mainly as a result of agricultural and industrial practices (Ali et al 2004).Alternative techniques for the clean-up of polluted soil and water, such as the cost-effective and less disruptive phytoremediation, have gained acceptance in recent years (Pilon-Smits 2005, Thewys et al 2010. Trees have been suggested as suitable for phytoremediation due to their high biomass production (Dickinson & Pulford 2005) and because tree plantations can be multi-purpose (Tognetti et al 2013).…”