The organic and inorganic pollutants present in irrigation water and agricultural soil (heavy metals, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, etc.) and in the air (suspended particles, nitrogen dioxide) in the peri-urban horticultural area of the city of Barcelona compromise the sustainable and proximity food production promoted by current European legislation. The European Union's Farm to Fork1 strategy seeks to transform the food production and consumption system and reduce the environmental footprint of food systems within the circular economy approach. This research project aims to quantify the reduction of anthropogenic environmental pollution through the use of biochar, produced from biomass waste2 generated in the Barcelona region, on agricultural land in the peri-urban area of Barcelona, due to its capacity to adsorb inorganic and organic pollutants3. The long-term effect of the use of biochar on the nutritional quality and food safety of lettuces grown in experimental plots will also be studied. It is hoped that the results of the research project will reduce the impact of environmental pollution and generate a responsible and sustainable production model in the peri-urban horticultural area of Barcelona.
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