Rethinking Waste Streams: New Alternatives for the Australian Processing Tomato Industry

Farm Table says:

A new concept of distributed ammonia production via the gasification of the waste tomato vine is proposed as a possible industry solution. It meets a present demand for nitrogen- based fertilisers in tomato production and creates a high value product from a low value waste stream. The financial potential for such a system at this early stage appears positive, and a description of how an industry application could potentially operate in Australia is outlined.

This report investigates the potential technology that exists to make use of the tomato vine waste produced each season by the Australian processing tomato industry. The aim is to provide alternatives for consideration that may be suitable on an industry or individual grower scale.
The report defines the key challenges to the use of waste tomato vine as a material or
energy resource as:

  • Relatively low calorific energy value per ton of dry vine mass (14.8Gj/ton)
  • The vines physical characteristics post-harvest
    The technologies investigated have been considered in a context of how they might operate in Australia. Many technologies found in Europe were found to be highly effective in operating there, but unsuitable as an Australian alternative for technical and economic reasons.

This report on rethinking waste streams outlines:

  • Opportunity
  • Value Adding
  • Technology
  • Ammonia
  • APTG Uptake

Contact details for Nuffield Australia

Name: Nuffield Australia

Email: enquiries@nuffield.com.au

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Last Edited:
27/03/2025
Rob Jennings
Rob Jennings

Rob Jennings is recognised as a leading advocate for Australian agriculture. As Managing Director of Farm Table, Rob has transformed the platform into one of the sector’s most dynamic and independent national networks, facilitating collaboration, knowledge-sharing and improved communication across the agricultural landscape, both in Australia and overseas.

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