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Manure treatment

The treatment of manure is an important part of circular agriculture. At Twence, we convert pig manure (of which there is a large surplus in the province of Twente) into high-grade raw materials and sustainable energy. We then deliver those raw materials back to agriculture and industry, and sustainable energy is supplied to households in the region.

What is manure treatment?

Manure treatment has been mandatory since 2014 in order to deal with the surplus of phosphate. At the same time, there is also a shortage of nutrients for growing our crops. Manure is an important food source for crops, plants and trees and an effective and efficient way to retain valuable and finite raw materials, such as nutrients from manure, within the cycle. Manure is also a source of energy. Manure treatment cuts down on emissions of ammonia, methane and odours and limits risks to public health by producing high-grade and safe raw materials. Part of the manure is used untreated in Dutch agriculture or is exported. We would like to preserve the nutrients and the organic matter for our Dutch soil, because otherwise these would have to be supplied with artificial fertilisers.

Minerals and raw materials in manure

Manure is made up of valuable and finite raw materials. In addition to potassium and nitrogen, it also contains phosphate, a building material that forms the basis of everything that grows and flourishes. Because of the importance of these raw materials for the world's food supply, more and more attention is being paid to the importance of preserving these substances in the cycle. And that is exactly what Twence is doing: preserving nutrients.

Why should we treat manure?

There is a surplus of manure in the Netherlands along with the accompanying surplus of nitrogen emissions. Our agricultural land is extremely saturated and the gases from manure slurry are harmful to people and the environment. Therefore, a solution must be found to deal with the surplus. Farmers can use part of the manure to spread on their own agricultural land. They need to find a way to get rid of the surplus. With a facility at Twence, this surplus of pig manure can be treated 100% to produce valuable raw materials and energy. And we no longer call this treatment, but valorisation. It will find its way back into society.

Closing the mineral cycles by treating manure

By treating manure, we are closing mineral cycles and reducing the use of artificial fertilisers even further. Apart from closing the mineral cycles, we need to improve the soil and water quality in the Netherlands and we want to reduce greenhouse gases and nitrogen emissions. High-grade manure treatment will help to accomplish these goals and offer a future perspective for the agricultural entrepreneurs in our region. By processing manure swiftly by means of fermentation, we produce green gas for 3,000 households and also cut down on methane emissions. By doing this, we are making a significant contribution to improving the climate and achieving the energy targets.

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Manure treatment process

Through our newly built manure valorisation plant, we extract these raw materials from manure, convert them into new raw materials and bring them back into the cycle. We go so far as to even return clean water back to nature. And the valorisation process creates sustainable energy: green gas with which we supply as many as 3,000 households with biogas. In other words, 100% circular agriculture, in which we return high-grade raw materials back to society.