Nature-based technologies for soil and water remediation€¦ · Nature-based technologies for soil and water remediation Bio-inspired opportunities in the environmental sector and

Caroline Zaoui – Biomimicry Belgium, NovobiomNBS2017, Tallinn – 24-26 October 2017

Nature-based technologies for soil and water remediation

Bio-inspired opportunities in the environmental sector and integration intothe urban landscape for the benefit of local communities

Linking Biomimicry/Bio-inspiration and NBS

NBS

Living solutions inspired by,

continuously supported by

and using nature, which are

designed to address various

societal challenges in a

resource-efficient and

adaptable manner and to

provide simultaneously

economic, social, and

environmental benefit

BIOMIMICRY / BIO-

INSPIRATIONAn approach to

innovation that seeks

sustainable solutions

to human challenges

by emulating nature's

time-tested patterns

and strategies

Biomimicry & sustainabilityExperts are all around us, and their R&D department is 3.8 billion years ahead of ours …

In a given context, what would nature do?

→ 3 interpretation levels

• FORM

• PROCESSES

• ECOSYSTEMS

The case for bio-inspired, nature-

based innovations from soil

ecosystems

Inspiration from soil chemical engineers…

SOIL

MICROBES

Carbon cycling and storage

Organic matter breakdown

Nutrient cycling, water

filtration

A Biomimetic Project Design

Soil Biocarbonatation and Agroforestry

Crédits photo : Biomimicry, Sadhana Forest, Article29

Biomimicry Europa

www.biomimicry.eu

Quand la nature

inspire des modèles

durables

Arbres Sauveurs Programme

The case of soil mycoremediation

Developing bioinspired environmental technologies

EUROPE

• 3,5M potentially polluted

sites

• 0,5M treated sites

• A 6,5 billion € yearly cost

for treatment !

BELGIUM

• 118000

potentially

polluted sites

• 12000 identified

sites

Soil remediation market

FRANCE

• 250 000 potentially

polluted sites (PPS)

• 46 PPS / 1000 capita

Mycoremediation: a competitive advantage

Competitive alternative to

physical and thermal treatments

Simultanous treatmentof cocktail pollutants

Always pre-validated and

adapted to each site specificities

Onsite treatment

no transportation cost

Attractive treatment

time (vs. bioremediation& phytoremediation)

Nature based & restorative

Towards industrial scale up

Production:

Infrastructures &

circular economy

Onsite

implementation:

Bioingineering

Cleantech within the NBS framework

NBS INITIATIVES

→ Greener, carbon

storing cities

Green waste

→ domestic waste

→ green infrastructure

organic waste

Solid waste treatment facilities

→ Biomethanization slurry

→ composting platforms

Compost &

lignin-containing

waste

PHYTOTECHNOLOGIES

→ Water filtration

→ Electricity

→ Soil remediation

MYCOTECHNOLOGIES

→ Fungal biomass production for:

- Soil remediation

- Plastic biodegradation in compost

- Soil amendment

CARBON BIOSEQUESTRATION

→ Exploiting biomineralization

- Oxalotrophic trees

CLEAN LIVING

SOIL

CLEAN LIVING

SOIL

More about biomimicry

• Brussels event, Nov. 6:• "Nature-based Solutions for more

sustainable and resilient societies“• 18:30 – 20:30, European Parliament,

Brussels, Room P4B001• Keynote speech on bio-inspiration by

Leen Gorissen

• Biomimicry Belgium • www.biomimicrybe.org• [email protected]

THANK YOU