CRA-W, Belgium

Centre wallon de Recherches agronomiques (CRA-W)


Founded in 1872, the Walloon Agricultural Research Centre (CRA-W) is a scientific establishment under the Regional Government of Wallonia (Belgium).

The four Departments of CRA-W offer complementary areas of expertise and together form a multidisciplinary research institution covering the main fields of interest in agriculture, horticulture and forestry as well as the food processing industries and environmental sciences.
The Valorisation of Agricultural Products Department, within the CRA-W, is divided into four Research Units : Biomass, Bioproducts and Energy Unit, Agricultural product Technology Unit, Food and Feed Quality Unit, Authentification and Traceability Unit.

The Biomass, Bioproducts and Energy Unit contributes to socio-economic development and a better environment by making more complete, more efficient use of biomass in energy recovery and industrial applications.

The Unit’s research aims follow three main lines :contributing to the development of biorefining methods ;technical, economic and environmental optimisation of the supply, processing and conversion into energy of solid biofuels ;analysis and implementation of sectors for the use of biomass as energy.

The Unit’s research and development work is conducted in accordance with scientific and technical procedures guaranteeing the quality and objectivity of the results. Such procedures comply with quality standards or directives (ISO 17025, ISO 9001, Good Experimental Practice) or follow a recognised scientific approach.

The Unit is actively involved in scientific and technical expert networks at regional, national and international level.

In January 2002, an industrial size grate boiler (550 kW) with a water cooling system was installed in the Unit. This high-performance research device has made it possible to start research on the combustion of farming and food industry residues (co-combustion wood panels / manure, cocoa shells, high density panels, etc). Thanks to gas analysis devices and ash analysis, the effect on the environment, as well as conformity with emissions standards can be supervised.

The Unit has carried out for decades user-oriented applied research and development activities as well as in countries on the way to industrialising (Asia, Eastern Europe) and developing countries (Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean).

Two PhD studies are currently related to sustainability criteria. The first one is focusing on the implementation of a certification system for liquid biofuels, based on environmental and socio-economic criteria. The other one is more oriented to sustainability criteria for the production of solid biofuels in a context of supply logistics to power plant using huge amount of solid biomass.

For more information, see also:

http://cra.wallonie.be/