At Den magiskes fabrikken in Tønsberg, food waste from 1.2 million households is mixed with garden waste and livestock dung from the surrounding area. Out comes biogas, manure water and compost. Add mineral and earthworms and the compost becomes growing soil for tomatoes in greenhouses. – The usual thing is to grow tomatoes in stone wool and add artificial fertilizer to the water, says project manager Bjørnar Bjelland in Reklima. Project manager Bjørnar Bjelland in Reklima is happy that the tomatoes are finally coming out in the shops Photo: Philip Hofgaard / news Both bumblebees and parasitic wasps fly around him in the greenhouse. They ensure that the tomatoes are pollinated. In the soil, earthworms work to turn the compost into food for the tomatoes. The aim is for them to be able to deliver 60 tonnes of tomatoes to the shops this year. Next year they are betting on 75 tonnes. Food waste from large parts of Austlandet becomes new food. Photo: Tordis Gauteplass / news Sustainable support This method of circular food production was “invented” by Nasa for a future where humans may live on Mars. So far, this has been tested and researched in a closed system. Now it is seen in commercial production in a completely ordinary horticulture in Vestfold. While they have been testing and researching, both politicians and royal doctors have visited the greenhouse. Photo: Sven Gj. Gjeruldsen Norgesgruppen has a contingency fund that will support solutions for how Norway can produce food in a more environmentally friendly way. The tomato project at Kjær gard has received NOK 4.6 million in support. Energy director Signe Bunkholt Sæter is excited that they are already seeing the results. And not least that they can taste them. – It’s like an explosion of taste, she says when the first tomato is put in her mouth. Do you want to buy these tomatoes in the store? Yes, they are probably very good. No, thank you. I buy the regular ones. Show result Price and taste most important The Berekraftfondet’s aim is to get progress in results that can provide new solutions for food production. – Taste and price are the most important things for the customer, says Sæter. These tomatoes will cost about the same as organic tomatoes, says Ivar Hagemoen. He is the day-to-day manager of Reklima, and his job is to get the product into the stores. Ripe tomatoes will be on the market shortly. Photo: Philip Hofgaard / news Could we be organic Farmer Martin Danielsen has grown organic tomatoes for a long time in the greenhouse at Kjær gard. Now he eagerly follows all the new things that happen. – This is just as organic as what I have done all these years, only in a more modern way, he says. Farmer Martin Danielsen at Kjær gard farms organically, but says the new circular method is just as good. Photo: Philip Hofgaard / news Actually, it is also quite old-fashioned. Compost, manure from livestock and earthworms was the way it was done before as well. – They have to touch the soil and get their hands dirty, just like in the old days, he says. When the tomatoes are harvested, the tomato plants are sent back to the compost and then the process starts again. Researcher Ketil Stoknes has a PhD in circular food production and has previously been part of the project. Then he thought such greenhouses could grow all kinds of food except potatoes and grain. Now theory becomes practice. Farmer Martin Danielsen has run Kjær gard for many years. Photo: Philip Hofgaard / news
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Tomatoes grown in cow dung and food waste are ready for the shops – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
