Construction of our first Kalfresh Bioenergy tank is underway at Kalbar but the preparations aren’t limited to the building site. We recently harvested our first trial maize crops that will ‘feed’ the anaerobic digester.
The maize was chosen because it can deliver dual benefits – it nourishes the soil as it grows, replenishing nutrients in between our food crops.
While the harvested maize will be stored for biomass, which when combined with other feedstocks including waste from our vegetable production factories, will generate renewable energy.
Cover Crops benefit the soil
Growing rotational ‘cover crops’ between food crops isn’t new for us. We maintain healthy soil by following a crop rotation that alternates vegetable plantings with deep rooted cover crops to protect the soil, enrich nutrients, reduce soil compaction and provide natural mulch.
We take a holistic view of our cropping system and always consider how every crop can add many benefits. The addition of maize into the rotation demonstrates a system where food production and energy generation can work together.
The by-product, digestate fertiliser, will be returned to the farms to grow the next vegetable crop. Food, fuel and fertiliser from the same paddocks – a perfect loop.