ReLEAF Project EU

🍀 Meet our #ReLEAF partners: NOVAID! 🇵🇹 #NOVAID is a private non-profit research organisation devoted to R&D&I activities and it is based at NOVA School of Science and Technology | NOVA FCT, NOVA University of Lisbon. In RELEAF project, their participation is through the Biochemical Engineering group (BIOENG). BIOENG-PT is devoted to developing high quality scientific research in the areas of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐅 - Leading the task on the optimisation of biopolymers extraction and production at lab-scale. - Developing, optimizing and upscaling a bioprocess for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) using nutrient-exhausted sewage sludge and agri-food wastes as feedstock. - Demonstrating PHA production for controlled-release BBFs by optimising, operating and monitoring a pilot plant with the upscaled PHA production bioprocess. Get to know our partners!  🔗https://ow.ly/zqKe50VqfUV

🍀 #𝐑𝐞𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐅 𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬: 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧! After lab-scale optimization and production, novel formulations, secondary raw material handling, and production parameters will be validated at a pre-industrial scale by our partners. In Spain, Tecnopackaging will develop biodegradable bioplastics with targeted functionalities for agriculture. 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬 - Encapsulation of additives (antimicrobials, struvite fertilizers, etc.) - Optimizing biopolymer blends (PHA + BioPBS/Starch) - Refining processing for injection molding (pots) & film blowing (mulching) - Producing bioplastic prototypes & testing their biodegradability in soil 🔗 Learn about our fertilizer production areas here: https://ow.ly/y0to50VlhLZ

🍀 Join the #ReLEAF community and don't miss any updates! 🌾 Stay updated on project and partner activities, get insights on milestones and events, and more. Sign up on our website to be the first one to receive all our updates straight in your inbox! 🔗 https://ow.ly/8RXx50UKUhO

🍀 #ReLEAF partners: European Federation of Food Science and Technology! #EFFoST facilitates knowledge and technology exchange among food professionals, creating opportunities for food scientists, engineers, technologists, policymakers, and businesses in food and food-related areas to connect and collaborate to enhance the uptake of new technologies and developments. EFFoST is a non-profit association, with more than 130 affiliated societies, institutes, and universities throughout Europe. By supporting the further development of food science and technology, EFFoST aims to advance the production of sustainable and healthy food for all in a changing world. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐅 - Contributing to partner project management and coordination - Leading the communication and dissemination activities of the project developments. - Building the project website which serves as the main platform to host information about the project. - Working on recommendations for policymakers and stakeholders. Learn more about our partners: 🔗 https://ow.ly/v0Av50Vm1YY

🍀#𝐑𝐞𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐅 𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬: 𝐈𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐲! Our fertilizer production sites will allow us to validate novel formulations and production parameters, and handle raw materials at a pre-industrial scale. 🇮🇹 One of these sites is located in Italy, where Timac Agro Italia S.p.A. will produce growth-stage targeted bio-based fertilizers (BBFs) at a pilot plant scale. 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬 - Business case for waste valorization (urban, industrial, agricultural) - Regulatory, logistical, operational, and industrial aspects 🔗 Learn about our fertilizer production areas here: https://ow.ly/y0to50VlhLZ

🍀 Meet our #ReLEAF partners: University of Bologna (Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna) 🇮🇹 The University of Bologna (UNIBO) is the oldest European University and the largest University in Emilia-Romagna region.  In RELEAF project, the University of Bologna is represented by the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences - University of Bologna (DISTAL) which combines teaching and research activities in the Agricultural and Food area. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐅 - Produce Microbial biomasses as plant biostimulants/biocontrol agents from fish wastewaters. - Produce encapsulating material for Bio-based fertilizer such as chitosan and collagen from fish and crustaceous waste. - Characterize the Bio-Base Fertilizers in accordance with EU regulation. - Assess the safety and quality of the food products resulting from the application of RELEAF Bio-Base Fertilizers Get to know our partners!  🔗https://ow.ly/WxkN50VhTal

🍀 Get to know us better! We believe sustainable agriculture and waste management can coexist to build a greener, more resilient future for Europe: - Reducing dependency on foreign supply chains - Transforming waste into bio-based fertilisers (BBFs) 🌱 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 We will develop cutting-edge extraction techniques at 5 Technology Demonstration Sites to recover key fertiliser ingredients from: - Sewage sludge - Fish processing waste - Mixed food waste - Agri-food residues Follow us for more updates and insights!

🍀 Introducing #ReLEAF partners: Timac Agro Italia S.p.A.! 🇮🇹 TIMAC AGRO’s unique business model, designed to create value for agricultural investors and provide tailored solutions in plant nutrition, has been a game-changer. Their extensive network of field technicians, operating across the Italian territory, further amplifies their reach and impact. Since 2015, TIMAC AGRO Italy has been at the forefront of sustainable development, integrating it into their corporate management model. As a result of strategic partnerships in the territory, they are proud to produce and commercialise a range of special fertilisers from the circular economy. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐅 For #ReLEAF they presented a business case for valorising different #waste types (urban, industrial, and agricultural) in the #fertiliser sector. This will include all the business aspects, from regulatory to logistic to operational to industrial, for the first time at the pilot level. The project’s output will be different products to be field-tested for agronomic efficiency and effectiveness. Get to know our partners!  🔗https://ow.ly/YwBX50VctKO

📣 Our project reached Brazil to help understand farmers' needs! The #ReLEAF partners from Work package 1 are analyzing end-user preferences and key factors influencing the adoption of bio-based fertilisers, and to get better insights, they created a survey to understand farmers’ knowledge, preferences, and priorities regarding bio-based fertilisers.  🇧🇷 This survey reached Brazil where Tatiana Kimura Kodama, a Ph.D. candidate in Production Engineering at the USP - Universidade de São Paulo, is researching System Dynamics Modeling to analyze bio-based and organic fertilizer scenarios, allowing for impact assessments, identifying barriers to nutrient recovery, and contributing to reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers. 🔗 Read more about her research and how #ReLEAF can help her understand the Brazilian landscape better: https://ow.ly/zGRs50VaRAT

🍀 Key takeaways from #ReLEAF participation in FER-PLAY EU's final event! Our partners European Federation of Food Science and Technology and Leitat Technological Center attended this event and contributed to discussions on shaping policy recommendations and challenges for bio-based fertilizers. 💡 Our goal was to highlight key insights from the project, foster collaborations, and ensure that the policy framework is conducive to the market uptake of bio-based fertilizers. 🔗 Learn more about the event and the different outcomes and collaboration we made: https://ow.ly/kzzT50Va1Ik