As Europe accelerates its transition to a green economy, new methods of production using bio-based raw materials are needed — without affecting food production or natural ecosystems.
The RUNFASTER4EU research project, which launched a few days ago, is a flagship European initiative aimed at converting low-yield land into sources of bio-based raw materials. These materials can be used in the production of cosmetics, bioplastics, plant biostimulants, herbicides, animal feed ingredients and more. The project includes plans to upgrade two major biorefineries, operated by Matrica and Versalis, and to conduct large-scale cultivation trials of oil-producing plants.
RUNFASTER4EU will be funded over the next five years by the European Union through the Circular Bio-Based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), with the participation of 18 partners from Greece and nine other countries. It brings together agronomic and industrial scientific knowledge and experience in the field of circular bioeconomy.
The kick-off meeting was held at Eni’s Research and Development Centre in Italy, marking the project’s first major milestone and confirming its ambitious design. Representatives from all project partners and from the Circular Bio-Based Europe Joint Undertaking took part in the meeting, contributing to the detailed planning of the initial phase of activities.
RUNFASTER4EU envisions demonstrating that it is possible, on an industrial level, to create new value chains starting with the cultivation of oil-producing plants on low-productivity land, without negatively impacting food and animal feed production needs. The plants grown on the pilot sites will yield vegetable oils and rich biomass for the production of high-value bio-based products.
In particular, the project will focus on maintaining soil in optimal condition and will establish large-scale cultivation of safflower, wild artichoke and rapeseed in Greece, Italy, Serbia, Spain and Romania.
From Greece, the participating organisations are the development consultancy ena Σύμβουλοι Ανάπτυξης and the Centre for Renewable Energy Sources and Saving (CRES), while the full consortium includes Versalis SPA (Coordinator), Novamont SPA, Matrica SPA, Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna, Centre for Renewable Energy Sources and Saving (CRES), ena Σύμβουλοι Ανάπτυξης, AHAVA Dead Sea Laboratories Ltd, AGRI 2000 IBERIA S.L., Agri 2000 Net RO SRL, BF Educational SRL, PNO Innovation Unipessoal LDA, LEDA Polymer SP ZOO, Carhue Piggeries Limited, Institut Za Ratarstvo I Povrtarstvo Institut Od Nars, CIFO SRL, Federazione Regionale Coldiretti Campania, Fundació Universitària Balmes and NAFIGATE Park S.R.O.
For more information, you may contact Communications Officer Ms Stella Bazdani at [email protected]
Website: https://runfaster4eu.eu
Source: RunFasterEU
Feature photo source: iStock
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