Interview Nelson Lourenço about FUTURAMB, the major project in vermicomposting and vermitechnology in Portugal.

1. An interview with FUTURAMB CEO Nelson Lourenço
April 2015
When it all start?
We start in 2007, working on vermicomposting, a vermitechnology
segment, selling vermicompost and giving training lessons. For
almost three years, we worked only in this area and also on
vermiculture, basically to other our clients. We worked also with
schools, making several projects with children.
And then?
On 2010, we start developing vermicomposting and vermicultura
systems. Since 2011 we have focus on all vermitechnology areas: vermifertilization, that uses
vermicomposting products to soil benefits based on organic crop production, vermifiltration,
to treat domestic, urban, agricultural and industrial wastewater. Actually, we also develop
vermicomposting and vermifiltration systems. Our job congregates investigation, consultancy
and training. Apart of the training lessons, we give e-learning training lessons since 2014.
What is Vermitechnology?
Vermitechnology is the science that uses earthworms to face, control and solve the
environmental problems in the society and ecosystems. It’s an Environmental Engineering
segment.
Where are you placed?
We are placed in Algarve, in a small village called São Bartolomeu de Messines near Silves.
Your formation is allocated in this area?
I have a BSc on Environmental Engineering so I an Environmental Engineer in Portuguese
Engineers Association; I have also an MSc on Sustainable Management of Rural Areas and a
PhD on Environmental Sciences and Technologies. I think and believe that I have the technical
and scientific skills to lead this project. I’m an investigator, trainer and consultant.

2. Could you give us an idea of the Project?
Organic wastes and wastewaters are basically a source of organic matter, nutrients and energy
to the soil and plants. However, we struggle to understand that the wrong management of
these materials can lead to the pollution and contamination of the environment.
Climate changes are an issue of our generations, not the further. Incorrect waste management,
the pollution and contamination of soil and water are huge problems nowadays. We also face
a crises in crop production, with the demanding in chemical fertilizers with consequences no
the environment and human health. Water uses, water quality and water resources are a big
concern to the Wastewater Treatment Facilities. For all these reasons, we create this Project
and this idea. Vermitechnology aims to develop global and national environmental benefits to
the society. FUTURAMB is an arm of this idea.
Why kind of solutions have FUTURAMB?
Global warming is the present, not the past and not even the future. Organic waste wrong
management is part of this problem. The transport of the waste to landfill is also a problem
since waste already has an ecological footprint. We increase this footprint with the transport.
Our focus is to develop on-site technologies and processes that reduce the amount of Carbon
Dioxide and Methane to the atmosphere associated with the waste and wastewater
management. We also focus on the soil quality and organic fertilization with vermicomposting
products.
Tell us about the main FUTURAMB process?
Vermicomposting uses epigenic earthworms to treat organic waste streams and produce
vermicompost and other secondary products. It reduces the organic waste volume to landfill
and greenhouse gas emissions. Vermifiltration is a technology that uses epigenic earthworms
to treat domestic, urban, agricultural or industrial wastewater. It’s a passive system that adapts
the vermicomposting and tricking filters processes. The processes include primary, secondary
and tertiary wastewater treatments. Vermifertilization uses the products produced in
vermicomposting to promote soil quality and fertility based in a organic production process.
What kind of problems did you face until now?
Portuguese governmental organisms are lacking in ideas and solutions to face environmental
issues. We identify this problem several years ago: the leaders and technicians that worked in
these organisms don’t have an adequate formation for the place. We are 30 years back. We
still understand the problems in a general way, not in an individual way like the “Age locally,
think globally” mentality. The major part of portuguese politicians and technicians doesn’t
have the technical and scientific skills. As an example, in Silves Municipal Council, the
Environmental Department never heard about vermifiltration! We need to change these
situations.

3. What are your advantages in the market?
We never have a support of local governments. That’s an advantage for us. We don’t depend
of partnerships, groups or supporters. We are 100% independent. We made this success by
our own. We never have any help for the government authorities. It’s not strange that the
Portuguese government never helped us. As I said before, we are 30 years back and still will
be.