In this second EMBEDED partner interview, we speak with Agrovýzkum Rapotín s.r.o., a leading Czech applied research organization specializing in sustainable agriculture, livestock production, and environmental management. Their work in the project focuses on evaluating innovative biochar applications in livestock farming and crop production, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve nutrient retention, and enhance carbon sequestration. In this interview, they share insights into their research activities, the project’s scientific innovation, and the role of circular bioeconomy solutions in advancing more sustainable agricultural practices.
Q: Can you briefly introduce your organization and its main area of expertise?
A: Agrovýzkum Rapotín s.r.o. is a private research institution focused on applied research in agriculture, primarily on cattle breeding, the quality of animal and plant production and environmental topics. The organisation has many years of experience in implementing national and international projects, and collaborates with other research institutes, agricultural enterprises and institutions operating in agricultural and environmental sectors. Key areas of expertise include research of nutrition and livestock breeding techniques, as well as modulating the quality of crop production and innovative practices in their cultivation, soil protection and sustainable management in the landscape. Agrovýzkum Rapotín also implements the transfer of research results into practice as part of its consulting activities.
Q: What role does your team play within the EMBEDED project?
A: The main role is to assess the effect of the application of different types of biochar produced from agricultural residues and wastes. These biochars are applied to cows’ feed and bedding and organic fertilizers (manure), obtained from biochar-enriched livestock production waste, are evaluated on their effects of gas production and nutrient retention. The aim is to reduce emissions of ammonia and greenhouse gases (GHG) from both livestock farming and soil, fertilized with biochar-containing manure, to optimize fertilization practices and to enhance carbon sequestration as part of agrotechnical practices implemented directly on farms. Our activities also include the dissemination and implementation of validated practices in cooperation with other project partners.
Q: How does EMBEDED align with your organization’s broader goals or sustainability strategy?
A: The research on effects of (i) agrotechnical practices aimed at increasing carbon sequestration in agricultural soils, (ii) adding carbon additives to feed and bedding, and (iii) optimizing fertilization practices to reduce GHG and ammonia emissions, is fully aligned with the objectives of our Long-Term Research Development Strategy. What type of residues or processes are you most involved with in this project?
The residual materials, used in the EMBEDED project, consist of various types of agricultural waste (seeds, poppy seeds, shredlage, chopped biomass etc.), which are converted into biochar through pyrolysis. The biochar is subsequently applied to the livestock bedding and/or feed and enables to produce manure, which retains more organic carbon and nutrients through the adsorption properties of biochar. The manure is than applied to the soil as part of optimized fertilization strategies and agronomic practices for the cultivation of selected crops on farms.
Q: What impact do you expect EMBEDED to have at regional or European level?
A: The project is expected to support the circular economy and local actors by transforming agricultural waste into biochar, generating measurable impacts both at the Czech and EU levels. In the Czech Republic, regional-scale testing of biochar applications in agriculture is strengthening local supply chains and creates new business opportunities for farmers and processors. At the EU level, the project contributes to carbon neutrality and sustainable agriculture goals. By standardizing modular pyrolysis units, it enables the implementation of procedures from the Czech Republic to other countries and vice versa. Furthermore, the project is expected to improve the sustainability of agricultural production by (i) reducing its environmental impacts and (ii) increasing carbon sequestration, via converting secondary agricultural materials (waste) into valuable resources.
Q: What does the circular bioeconomy mean to you in practical terms?
A: In practice, bioeconomy means a transition to renewable materials with an emphasis on their maximum use and recycling without the production of unusable waste. From a carbon perspective, this represents the closure of natural cycles, where carbon is retained in solid materials and is not released into the atmosphere.
Q: What kind of research or testing are you conducting as part of EMBEDED?
A: We conduct both barn-scale and field-scale experiments aimed at evaluating the effect of amending different types of biochar, mainly made from agricultural waste, to cattle feed and bedding in situ e.g. in livestock production and in crop growing. We monitor the effect of biochar on the production of barn gases (ammonia, GHG), on the retention of nutrients in waste litter (bedding and excreta) and on the quality of manure produced from them. As part of the optimization of fertilization, we evaluate the effect of a given type of manure on soil quality (nutrient content, soil biology), on the reduction of emissions from the soil, on carbon sequestration and on the yield and quality of crop biomass during individual agrotechnical practices.
Q: How do you collaborate with industrial partners in scaling your findings to real applications?
A: Findings generated by project partners (e.g. MENDELU), based on the results from small-scale experiments (laboratory, greenhouse) under controlled conditions, are subsequently validated in livestock farming systems and field conditions on farms. The aim is to demonstrate the effect of biochars applied to the livestock feed and bedding on the soil quality (optimization of fertilization, reduction of emissions, and crop production). The results of the experiments under controlled conditions and obtained from barn and field applications in agricultural enterprises will result in, among others, Deliverable D4.4 – Benchmarking report for best agronomic practices and other methodological sets of recommendations, which can be directly adopted by partner farms in their agricultural practice.
Q: What makes EMBEDED scientifically innovative compared to other EU bioeconomy projects?
A: The main innovation of the project compared to other EU projects is primarily the development of a modular and portable pyrolysis unit capable converting agri-food waste into biochar directly on farms. In contrast to traditional solutions, this approach supports the creation of local and short supply chains. Modular units allow for multi-stage processing of materials. The project also focuses on the conversion of difficult-to-process residues into stable carbon-rich materials. Pilot testing under diverse conditions across the EU allows a comprehensive assessment of impacts on different soil types and cropping systems.
Q: What are the main challenges in characterizing or validating the bio-materials developed in the project?
A: The main challenges are: (i) evaluating the behavior of the produced materials in situ conditions e.g. in barn and field environments, (ii) assessing the capacity and availability of materials for sufficient biochar production, and (iii) evaluating the economic feasibility. Ensuring the long-term stability (productivity, crop yields, carbon sequestration) within a given management practice is also a challenge.
Q: How do you plan to transfer research results beyond the project — to students, industry, or policy?
A: The results will be disseminated through targeted activities aimed at students, agricultural practitioners and the wider professional community. Advisory services and the implementation of validated practices on cooperating farms will play a crucial role, particularly through workshops and field days. These events will allow for a clear demonstration of a specific challenges and their experimental solutions under real farming conditions. Finding with broader applicability we will disseminate through scientific publications, methodological guidelines, and presentations at seminars and conferences.
Stay tuned for more interviews as we continue to introduce the partners behind EMBEDED and explore the unique expertise, experiences, and contributions each organization brings to the project’s shared vision of a more sustainable and circular future.
