Cill Ulta

Cill Ulta

Cill Ulta, operating as Lárionad Acmhainní Nádúrtha CTR in the Donegal Gaeltacht, is a remarkable social enterprise. It is nestled in a remote area and focuses on sustainable horticulture practices within the circular economy framework, supporting local tourism. The site is strategically located in a Special Protected Area (SPA), serving as a sanctuary for the Corn Crex, and it borders a Special Area of Conservation. This 13-acre site has a rich history, originally starting as a tomato-growing venture in the 1960s, supplying Dublin markets and offering employment opportunities for over six decades.


In the 1970s, rising energy costs led to the abandonment and dismantling of the glasshouses for their valuable metals, leaving the site as an industrial wasteland. Only one acre of glasshouse remained, which was later rebuilt using decommissioned glass from the Netherlands.

Today, Cill Ulta
-  plays a vital role in the community by providing chemical and pesticide-free vegetables to over 80 disadvantaged families in the region, as well as

- supplies local restaurants and shops with sustainable, locally produced food, packaged in an eco-friendly manner.

 
Cill Ulta's commitment to sustainability extends to rainwater harvesting, utilizing two on-site reservoirs to support their circular economy business model. The facility boasts seven polytunnels, including two for research, an apiary, and a packing store. They are also involved in two European Innovation Partnerships (EIPs), which aim to rejuvenate 60 acres of abandoned land and improve soil health.

The organization employs low-impact equipment to enhance land quality and soil biology.

Cill Ulta welcomes various bus tours, offering visitors a unique local food experience and illustrating how dietary staples can be refreshed.
It is also home to the Northwest Bioeconomy Hub, dedicated to researching and developing bioeconomy solutions. Here, a small anaerobic digester uses organic waste as feedstock, producing natural fertilizer on-site.



Cill Ulta offers a wide range of courses, including beekeeping, sea and shoreline studies, migratory bird observation, and the revival of endangered species. They also promote social inclusion through collaborations with Mental Health Ireland and horticultural therapy.
The organization is actively involved in circular economy tourism, promoting a sensory garden within the glasshouses. This initiative is not only unique but also crucial for the region, as it showcases how circular economy principles can be integrated into tourism, reducing waste, generating biogas, and fostering social inclusion.

Cill Ulta sees education as a powerful tool for behavioral change. Through educational tours, they promote the concept of a sustainable circular economy food system, passing on knowledge to people of all ages through practical demonstrations.

Their zero embodied carbon room provides a serene space for individuals to reconnect with nature, the land, and their surroundings. Horticultural therapy is a burgeoning focus at Cill Ulta, further supporting social inclusion and offering a distinct experience for visitors.

In the realm of circular economy tourism within horticulture, Cill Ulta is a pioneer. Visitors have the opportunity to engage in ecotourism experiences and immersive activities related to sustainable farming, gardening, and responsible plate care. The organization offers hands-on workshops, farm-to-table experiences, and volunteer programs that showcase sustainable horticultural practices while fostering a profound connection with nature.

Many find solace in the Cill Ulta glasshouses, which provide a unique form of oxygen therapy, thanks to the diverse array of life thriving within them. These vibrant environments not only promote the local sector but also contribute to the region's economic vitality.
Circular Strategy:  Loop
Country:  Ireland

Anaerobic Digester

Anaerobic Digester uses feedstock from site, creating biogas and natural fertiliser. 

This acts as a demonstration model that reduces food waste but also demonstrates the adoption of green energy systems such as biogas created from food waste. This is an important project because as a rural region, sustainable green energy has seen a slow uptake due to the costs associated with the setup and technology. In Cill Ulta we have seen what price increases in energy can result in structural damage and lack of interest.  


The AD system in Cill Ulta is the first automated anaerobic digester in Ireland which reduces waste and produces renewable energy and natural fertiliser to reuse as plant and vegetable biostimulants promoting circular bioeconomy principles.

Cill Ulta is an SEC mentor and is located in a decarbonisation zone, therefore we have the opportunity to demonstrate and showcase to visitors various renewable energies. We have spaces for visitors such as the Horticulture therapy space, sensory garden and biogas that acts as a renewable energy source for our small kitchen space – the goal is to demonstrate to visitors to the site that waste is valuable and that it can be used as a feedstock that is later used as a cooking facility.
Impact
Economic impact
In terms of financial savings, it is expected that they will be able to save 75% by using biogas rather than electricity, especially in terms of canteen facilities and outdoor picnic spaces. They promote community engagement and this is to raise awareness of sustainable renewable energy and new solutions to an increase in utility bills especially Biogas and natural fertiliser.

Social impact
Social Impacts include social inclusion, healthy food systems for the region including the produce supplied to the tourism industry. It is by no means a small project as they can demonstrate, facilitate and educate on how the food system that they use can help with environmental decline and support an everyday commodity such as healthy food and eliminating food waste as well as promote natural pesticide and chemical free fertilisers.

Environmental impact
For every third bite of food we eat the bee is responsible. Cill Ulta recognises that key challenge, without a sustainable food system with less carbon emissions we have utilised a bottom up approach, and found circular economy solutions to the every day and changing food systems, to tackle a global food security issue at a local level and eliminate waste.
Resources
Human resources
Personnel related costs.

Financial resources
The resources for this project were higher than expected: the anaerobic digester cost 10,500 euros, while other accessories cost 120 euros for the biogas bag, taps and electrical work cost 1,000 euros and the kitchenette cost 28,000 euros.

Other resources
No other needed resources have been mentioned.
Visuals
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