Project Title: LIFE4FARMS – Innovative nature-based solutions for the elimination of nutrients and veterinary pharmaceuticals from livestock agricultural runoff
Project Website: https://life4farms.eu
Project Number: 101294964
Funding Body: European Commission – LIFE Programme (Circular Economy and Quality of Life)
Implementation Period: 09/2026 – 08/2030 (48 months)
Project Coordinator: Technical University of Liberec (CZ)
Project partners: DEKONTA, a.s., Provipor – Produçao de Alimentos para Animais, Lda, Finançor Agro-Alimentar S.A., Aarhus University, IRIDRA S.r.l., Fundaçao Gaspar Frutuoso
CZU Project Lead: Ing. Tereza Hnátková, Ph.D.
Project Manager: Ing. Marie Zástěrová (Cerhová), Ph.D.
Total Project Budget: EUR 2,595,063.51
Abstract:
The LIFE4FARMS project focuses on the development, validation, and demonstration of an innovative nature-based system, Wet4Agro, designed to treat agricultural wastewater and runoff, particularly from intensive livestock farming. The project aims to simultaneously remove nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus), veterinary pharmaceuticals, pathogens, and antimicrobial resistance genes, while enabling the safe reuse of treated water in agriculture. Three full-scale demonstration systems will be constructed and operated over the long term as part of the project—one in the Czech Republic and two in the Azores (Portugal). Collectively, they will be capable of treating approximately 40,000 m3 of agricultural wastewater annually. The project will validate the Wet4Agro technology under various climatic conditions, optimize its operation, and prepare it for commercial deployment across Europe.
The project brings together seven partners from four European countries (the Czech Republic, Portugal, Denmark, and Italy), combining cutting-edge research, universities, engineering firms, and agricultural practice.
