Tech Textiles in Agriculture and Fisheries Veerle Van linden 24/11/2014 Brussels, Belgium Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO) www.ilvo.vlaanderen.be
Outline Short introduction to ILVO Technical textiles in use in Agri/Fish Plant production (outdoor, indoor) Animal production (terrestrial, aquatic) Challenges for new technical textiles in Agri/Fish Plant production (outdoor, indoor) Animal production (terrestrial, aquatic) What Agri/Fish can offer to the textile industry
Short introduction to ILVO
ILVO consists of 4 research units Animal Sciences Plant Sciences Social Sciences Technology and Food Science
Animal Sciences Cattle Husbandry Small-animal Husbandry Pig Husbandry Aquatic Environment & Quality Fisheries & Aquatic Production
Plant Sciences Growth & Development Applied Genetics & Breeding Crop Husbandry & Environment Crop Protection
Technology and Food Science Food Safety Product Quality & Innovation Agricultural Engineering
Social Sciences Agricultural & Farm Development Rural Development
Services Food Pilot Lab analyses Advice Reference work Control and certification Technical/ technological services
Technical textiles in use in Agri/Fish
In use \ Plant production \ Outdoor
In use \ Plant production \ Outdoor (Nonwoven) crop covers better yields, prevent harvested commodities from spoilage can be used over and over again e.g. strawberries, sugar beets Compost covers to regulate thermal, moisture and aerobic levels; to protect from rain Seed blankets to cover seed beds to create a microclimate (heat, humidity), adverse weather protection Ground covers (screens on earth banks) for pot plants weed control fabric to drain the water from the pot plants, to control weed
Biodegradable plant pots, plant nursery containers Root control bags Collection or gathering nets for fruit and nuts Protection netting on red fruit Anti-bird netting Insect-proof netting Anti-hail nets Shade netting Landscape textile
In use \ Plant production \ Indoor
In use \ Plant production \ Indoor Capillary mats (needle-punched fabrics) saturates easily, keeps the plants moist, raises the RH in the greenhouse Energy screens are single or multiple layered vapour permeable and flexible may not block the sunlight when folded Anti-Condens foil (AC-foil), fixed and disposable or mobile AC foil keeps heat inside, prevents droplets, which block the sunlight) plastic, no textile! Optional: woven foil with aluminum to keep heat in 5 years lifespan! Condense at lower side (alters heat retention), dust at upper side Optional: screen with a aluminum (facing up) and plastic to protect against excess heat influx transparent to light
In Use \ Animal production \ Terrestrial
In use \ Animal production \ Terrestrial Windbreak netting in naturally ventilated barns Silage covers, air-tight Manure storage liners Slurry silo covers Cow mattressess & cow mats Shade netting (pasture) Claw covers for medical treatment
In Use \ Animal production \ Aquatic Near surface In water column Long lines Near seebed At seebed Common in BE Experiments only in BE
In Use \ Animal production \ Aquatic
In Use \ Animal production \ Aquatic Fishing gear = nets + floaters + cables + rollers + lines + Rough circumstances: rigid material, often heavily impregnated Mostly PE material, knitted Extremely strong gear: tonnes of fish in few hours Very stretchable gear Minimized hydrodynamic resistance (fuel use) Prone to wearing out (abrasion)
In Use \ Animal production \ Aquatic Traditionally non-selective gear: by-catch! Bad survival of escapees (roughness of net) Fouling is a huge problem Pulse fishing (electrodes in the net) is upcoming Cables for hauling are being replaced by textile cables Beam trawl, shrimps Traditional fishing Pulse fishing
Challenges for technical textiles in Agri/Fish
New \ Plant production \ Outdoor Weed control fabric for agroforestry: in tree rows Compost cover that controls emissions (N 2 O, NH 3, CH 4, CO 2 ) idem for manure storage liner Absorption of emissions Catalytic breakdown of emissions Fixation of emissions (and compostable or washable) With initial properties (compost: humidity retention, oxygen permeability, rain protection) Bio-degradable baling material for straw iso plastic
Ctd \ Plant production \ Outdoor Recycle/reuse plastic waste (e.g. from baling) into plastic fibres/yarn? (see G-star plastic soup reuse) Ground covers compatible with current mechanisation E.g. weeg control fabric for maize: application during seed bed preparation, removable, compostable Water permeable and barrier to soil emissions (N 2 O, NH 3 ) Allowing fertilization Tractor tires with adaptable profiling no more winter tires
New \ Plant production \ Indoor Better insulating screens (with air layer?) to prevent condensation and so maintain emissivity alternative for the three screen layers system (current 3-in-1 mechanical system = complex) Better tailored screens to have a good fit and prevent heat losses Vapour tight screens >< current: vapour permeable to recover latent heat via vapour newest technology in development
Ctd \ Animal production \ Terrestrial Textile with emission control properties (N 2 O, NH 3, CH 4, CO 2, odour, fine dust) absorption-fixation-catalytic breakdown + disposal or washing Specific urease-removing properties for manure For windbreak netting For interior of stables, transportation: animal welfare Easy to clean Textile with integrated sensors or rechargeable batteries Temperature sensors for early infection detection at udder Indicator molecules for concentrations of harmful gases (H 2 S, CH 4, ) Energy from body heat or light, to recharge batteries in step counters Energy for RFID sensors
New \ Animal production \ Terrestrial Manure storage liner properties: see compost cover New legislation: no more free storage on field Now: watertight concrete floor and walls to avoid drain losses = expensive! Liner should avoid losses to air and ground water Advantage of textile: bottom/top cover, transportable Combination possible with straw on bare soil = cheaper! Teat cup liners (milking machine): thermoplastic Claw covers that resorb after treatment (3 weeks) Transparent separators for cow places: social contact
Ctd \ Animal production \ Terrestrial Textile for playing (pigs) Outdoor covers to keep rain and manure separated Textile for material in new laying hen systems To protect from bone fractures Innovation in cow mattresses Self-healing top cover No toxic ingredients (plastifiers) in coatings Better grip (no lameness) by embossing? Resilient, insulating Made of recycled material
New \ Animal production \ Aquatic Urgent need for non-toxic anti-fouling material New ban on throwing back: more selective fishing gear Selective = with escape windows and separator panels Complex meshing (different mesh sizes combined) New textiles (like Dyneema) is desirable Less hydraulic resistance Lighter = less fuel consumption, less CO 2 emissions Safer to use because vessels are easier to handle with the lighter netting Ecological aspect: less disturbance of the see floor Cables are being replaced by textile cables Design with less contact with see floor
Ctd \ Animal production \ Aquatic Improving survival of escapees: smooth surface yarn Pollution by microplastics is a big problem! Bio-degradable material for fishing gear, esp. for gill nets (ghost nets) pots and traps protection fibres of beam trawl (microplastics by abrasion!) Aquaculture is becoming important
What Agri/Fish can offer to the textile industry
What Agri/Fish can offer to the textile industry Residues from agriculture can be used to create new material Leak powder and tomato powder are used in textile coatings that make textile water-repellant Sustainable and renewable ingredient Bio-based fibres (hemp, flax, miscanthus) are available, new valorizations are constantly explored E.g. use in mattress cover?
Thank you! Please contact us if you have any further questions: In relation to Agriculture: Veerle Van linden E-mail: veerle.vanlinden@ilvo.vlaanderen.be In relation to Fisheries: Hans Polet E-mail: hans.polet@ilvo.vlaanderen.be Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research Burg. Van Gansberghelaan 96 9820 Merelbeke T +32 9 272 28 00 www.ilvo.vlaanderen.be