9th Joint Call: AzoFarm

9th Joint Call: AzoFarm

AzoFarm develops a decentralized, plant and insect based wastewater valorization system tailored to Thailand and the Philippines. The project integrates existing wastewater treatment steps with phytoremediation using the water fern ‘Azolla’ and resource recovery using Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae. The overall goal is to convert wastewater and sludge into valuable products—fertilizers, animal feed, and reusable water—through an efficient, circular approach suitable for high nutrient wastewater streams from markets and food processing industries.
A cascading treatment model is developed and tested across four case study sites, combining pollutant removal, ‘Azolla’ cultivation, sludge valorization via BSF larvae, and resource reuse. The system aims to deliver scalable, low cost models for sustainable wastewater management that align with national strategies and broader SDG targets.
Posted on

Background

Industrial and municipal wastewater streams in Southeast Asia often contain high nutrient loads and organic pollutants. Conventional treatment systems can remove pollutants but do not typically generate valuable by‑products. Meanwhile, many commercial and industrial sites—such as public markets and food‑processing plants—produce wastewater and organic waste that could serve as resources for circular‑economy solutions.

‘Azolla’ and BSF larvae have strong potential for wastewater valorization due to their rapid growth, phytoremediation capability, and suitability as feed and fertilizer sources. Combining these biological systems with existing treatment steps allows for pollutant removal, nutrient recovery, and low‑cost resource production. AzoFarm applies this concept to real operational settings in Thailand and the Philippines, enabling local value creation and reducing environmental impacts.

The project

AzoFarm designs and validates a five‑stage decentralized wastewater valorization system:

  • Stage 1 – Conventional treatment: Removal of suspended solids and primary pollutants.
  • Stage 2 – Phytoremediation using ‘Azolla’: Additional nutrient and pollutant reduction where required.
  • Stage 3 – ‘Azolla’ cultivation for feed: Biomass produced using treated effluent is harvested as animal feed.
  • Stage 4 – Sludge + organic waste to BSF: Sludge from Stage 1 and organic wastes feed BSF larvae to produce animal feed and organic fertilizer.
  • Stage 5 – Resource reuse: Treated water and recovered products (fertilizer, larvae-based feed, biomass) are reintroduced into agricultural systems.

The project proceeds in three phases:

  • Phase 1: Lab-scale cascade design, evaluation of pollutant removal, and testing suitability for ‘Azolla’ and BSF growth.
  • Phase 2: Pilot implementation at selected case-study sites (markets, sweet‑corn factory, meat‑processing facility).
  • Phase 3: Sustainability and risk assessments including LCA, cost‑effectiveness analysis, QMRA, and stakeholder engagement to support uptake and policy pathways.

The science

The scientific work integrates wastewater engineering, phytoremediation, insect bioconversion, and sustainability assessment:

  • Phytoremediation science using ‘Azolla’ to remove nutrients and improve effluent quality.
  • Biological conversion of sludge and organic waste into BSF larvae biomass and organic fertilizer.
  • Optimization of cascade configurations for pollutant removal, biomass production, and system efficiency.
  • Pilot‑scale validation under real operational and climatic conditions.
  • Environmental and economic assessments including LCA, cost‑effectiveness, and microbial risk evaluation.
  • Analysis of market potential, scalability, and policy considerations for decentralized wastewater valorization.

The team

The AzoFarm partners are:

 

Prof. Dr. Michael Thomann (Coordinator), University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW), Switzerland

Asst. Prof. Dr. Patiroop Pholchan, Chiang Mai University (CMU), Thailand

Dr. Angelo Hetutua Cabije, University of San Carlos (USC), The Philippines

 

Contact:

Prof. Dr. Michael Thomann                    michael.thomann@fhnw.ch 

Tags
ENVIRONMENT/CLIMATE CHANGE