Composting Project at ULusófona advances with Innovative Initiatives

The composting project at Lusófona University, led by the Faculty of Engineering's Eco-Schools Team, continues to evolve and gain prominence this year. Following on from the work started in previous years, the composter installed next to the campus vegetable garden has played a crucial role in valorising the organic waste generated in large quantities in the canteens. This waste is transformed into nutrient-rich compost, ideal for fertilising the university's organic vegetable garden.

This year, the project took a step forward with the development of two new initiatives in collaboration with the eco-council and the support of researchers from the Eco-Schools Council. One of the initiatives, launched between March and June, focuses on the study of microorganisms and microbial communities that develop in the compost and composter on campus.

The main aim of this research project is to isolate and identify various microorganisms with decomposer activity present in the compost. Under the coordination of teachers Patrícia Branco and Elisabete Maurício, several students involved in the Eco-Schools programme are contributing to this innovative research, which promises to bring new knowledge about the biological processes essential to composting.

The continuity and expansion of the composting project at Universidade Lusófona reflects the institution's commitment to sustainability and the development of ecological practices on campus, actively involving the academic community in initiatives that promote environmental education and the valorisation of organic waste.