PHACTUS
PHA through continuous, Tunable, Safe and Sustainable production
Duration: 01/09/2026 – 31/08/2029
Funding: PHACTUS is supported by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) and its members and co-funded by the European Union under Horizon Europe (Grant No. 101292437).
Status: Ongoing
About the Project
PHACTUS aims to demonstrate and scale up a first-of-its-kind continuous process for producing biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), specifically poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), from urban organic waste and wastewater sludge using mixed microbial cultures. By integrating continuous upstream and downstream bioprocesses with advanced online monitoring, digital process control, and modelling tools, the project seeks to improve process efficiency, robustness, and industrial scalability while contributing to a circular bio-based economy.
Guided by the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework, PHACTUS combines technological innovation with environmental, economic, and social sustainability assessment throughout the entire value chain. The project will demonstrate biodegradable PHBV-based materials for applications in construction, agriculture, composites, and packaging, while investigating circular end-of-life strategies, including material recovery, recycling, and the potential conversion of PHA waste back into valuable precursors.
Bringing together a multidisciplinary consortium of 17 European partners, PHACTUS aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower production costs, and strengthen the deployment and regional replicability of sustainable bio-based plastics across Europe.
Keywords: PHACTUS, PHBV, Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), Urban Organic Waste, Municipal Sludge, Circular Bioeconomy, SSbD, Biodegradable Polymers
Project Link:
PHACTUS
AgriLoop
Pushing the frontier of circular agriculture by converting residues into novel economic, social and environmental opportunities
Duration: 01/2023 – 12/2026
Funding: EU Horizon Europe
Status: Ongoing
About the Project
AgriLoop is an international research project that aims to increase the value of agricultural residues by converting them into high-value bio-based products. Through a cascading biorefinery approach, the project develops safe-and-sustainable-by-design (SSbD) processes to transform residues from sectors such as tomato, soy, straw, potato, brewery, and livestock into products including plant and microbial proteins, biopolymers, and other bio-based chemicals for food, feed, health, and material applications. By strengthening collaboration between European Union and Chinese partners, AgriLoop seeks to improve resource efficiency, reduce waste from agriculture, and support the development of sustainable bio-based markets.
Keywords: Biorefinery, Bioeconomy, Agri-residues
Project Link:
AgriLoop
FLAVOURFERM
Unleashing the flavour potential of plant-based foods via fermentation
Duration: 11/2024 – 04/2028
Funding: EU Horizon Europe
Status: Ongoing
About the Project
FLAVOURFERM aims to optimize, demonstrate, and deploy fermentation technologies to unlock the flavor potential of plant-based foods and respond to consumer demand for tasty, nutritious, and healthy plant-based products. Precision fermentation, biomass fermentation, and traditional fermentation techniques will be optimized to improve the sensory properties (flavor and texture) as well as the protein content and bioavailability in plant-based foods. Innovative fermented foods will be developed by incorporating ingredients from the optimized fermentation techniques into food products. The production will involve animal-free recombinant casein obtained by precision fermentation, as well as fungal mycelia obtained from legume fermentation, to produce an array of novel food products in three business cases: plant-based cheese, plant-based meat, and plant-based milk. All novel ingredients and final products will be scaled-up and produced at pilot and pre-commercial scale in collaboration with industrial partners, which include both innovative SMEs and established manufacturers from different EU regions.
Keywords: Plant-based foods, Alternative proteins, Fermentation
Project Link:
FLAVOURFERM
AGRO4AGRI
FOSTERING THE ADVANCED USE OF AGROCHEMICALS FOR A SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
Duration: 05/2024 – 04/2028
Funding: the European Union
Status: Ongoing
About the Project
AGRO4AGRI is an EU-funded project set to revolutionize plant nutrition and protection through cutting-edge nano and biotechnology. Within 4 years, by enhancing fertilizer efficiency and developing species-specific nematicides, the project aims to deliver sustainable and innovative solutions under the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework. The project focuses on implementing nano and biobased controlled delivery systems for fertilizers, combined with plant biostimulants, to boost nutrient use efficiency. Additionally, it aims to develop target-specific biopesticides using RNAi technology, which are safe for humans and non-target organisms. AGRO4AGRI’s solutions are designed to be biodegradable and environmentally friendly, reducing the need for traditional agrochemicals. Aligned with the European Green Deal, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the Farm to Fork Strategy, and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, AGRO4AGRI aims to cut nutrient and pesticide use in agriculture by over 40% and 50%, respectively.
Keywords: AI, LCA, Decision Support
Project Link:
AGRO4AGRI
MARMADE
MARine bioMass valorizAtion for fooD and fEed innovation
Duration: 09/2025 – 09/2029
Funding: European Union – Horizon Europe, under the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), as a HORIZON Research and Innovation Action (HORIZON-RIA)
Status: Ongoing
About the Project
MARMADE is creating a sustainable and innovative bio-based value chain for turning marine biomass into high-value food and feed ingredients. The aim is to valorize crustacean residues (shrimp and blue crab shells) and seaweed to develop affordable, nutritious, safe, and sustainable ingredients. Through advanced biorefinery processes, the project converts these underutilized marine resources into a portfolio of high-value bio-based products in a cascading extraction approach. These valuable extracts include pre/postbiotics, vitamins, peptides, oligosaccharides, fats, emulsifiers, and digestibility enhancers. The final products are innovative food and feed prototypes with improved nutritional and sensory properties. The entire process is rigorously checked for compliance with safety, sustainability, and regulatory standards, integrating the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework.
Keywords: Food and feed fish ingredients, Biorefinery approach, Cascading extraction processes
Project Link:
MARMADE
ZDHydro
Development of an Integrated Zero Discharge Model for Sewage Sludge to Enhanced Hydrogen Production
Duration: 01/2023 – 04/2027
Funding: Innovation Fund Danmark
Status: Ongoing
About the Project
This project focuses on converting sewage sludge, which is an abundant and problematic waste stream in both India and Denmark, into a valuable source of hydrogen (H₂) within an effort to push transition towards a circular economy framework. Sewage sludge is valorized through a combination of emerging biohydrogen production technologies, including dark fermentation (DF), microbial electrolysis cells (MEC), and photofermentation (PF), while addressing key limitations that currently hinder large-scale application, such as low substrate conversion, process instability, and by-product formation. ZDHydro investigates microbial community dynamics, optimizes substrate selection and pretreatment strategies as well as test potential synergistic effects of co-fermentation with organic fraction of municipal solid waste. By combining DF, MEC, and PF into an advanced DMPI system, the project aims to significantly improve hydrogen yields and process efficiency. The resulting integrated approach is to be validated at pilot scale (100 L) and amply assessed using a techno-economic and environmental assessment framework to ensure viability and demonstrate environmental benefits over tradeoffs.
Keywords: biohydrogen production, sewage sludge valorization, waste-to-energy
Project Link:
ZDHydro
ALLIANCE
(EUROPEAN MICROALGAE ALLIANCE): INNOVATIVE, SAFE, AND SUSTAINABLE MULTIPRODUCT BIOREFINERIES FOR A BLUE BIOBASED ECONOMY.
Duration: 09/2025 – 08/2029
Funding: ALLIANCE is supported by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking and its member, and co-funded by the EU (Grant No. 101214199).
Status: Ongoing
About the Project
The ALLIANCE project aims to accelerate the uptake of microalgae-based products in the European market by enhancing cost-effectiveness, circularity, and sustainability across production and processing. Guided by the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework, it focuses on developing mid-value algae-based ingredients through multi-product biorefineries serving food, cellular agriculture, aquafeed, and agriculture sectors. Key innovations include nutrient and water recirculation, automated and efficient production systems, reduced resource consumption, renewable and off-grid energy use, and solvent-free biorefinery processes. ALLIANCE integrates upstream and downstream processes across four production pipelines, expanding them into 15 near-zero-waste product lines. Advanced wet biomass processing and solvent-free extraction improve efficiency and scalability. Supported by a multidisciplinary consortium of 19 European partners, the project combines technological innovation with market and policy engagement to enable sustainable commercialization and strengthen Europe’s bio-based economy.
Keywords: ALLIANCE, Microalgae, MPB (multi-product biorefineries)
Project Link:
ALLIANCE
GreenImPro
Improved business potential by increasing protein quality from green feed protein to food protein ingredients and high quality aquafeed
Duration: 04/2023 – 02/2025
Funding: Innovation Fund Denmark
Status: Completed
About the Project
GreenImPro is a research and innovation project that develops scalable biorefinery processes to produce high-quality protein ingredients from locally sourced green biomass such as alfalfa, white clover, and sea lettuce. The project aims to supply sustainable proteins for food, aquaculture, and animal feed while reducing Europe’s dependence on imported soy and lowering environmental impacts. By combining heat treatment with innovative vibrational membrane filtration, GreenImPro seeks to improve protein quality and support the commercial viability of green biorefineries.
Keywords: Green biorefinery, Alternative proteins, Sustainable food systems
Project Link:
GreenImPro
TAKE-OFF
Production of synthetic renewable aviation fuel from CO2 and H2.
Duration: 01/2021 – 12/2024
Funding: the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement N°101006799.
Status: Completed
About the Project
The TAKE-OFF project aims to develop and demonstrate advanced technologies for producing next-generation Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) using captured CO₂ and renewable hydrogen. The project focuses on an innovative power-to-liquid pathway that improves energy efficiency and reduces production costs compared to existing methods. TAKE-OFF will advance key technologies by converting CO₂ and H₂ into dimethyl ether (DME) and light olefins, progressing from TRL 3 to TRL 5 and TRL 4, respectively. These intermediates are essential steps toward SAF production. In addition, the project will evaluate the economic and environmental performance of SAF produced via the light olefins route and compare it with alternative production pathways. This includes identifying opportunities to reduce fuel costs, minimize environmental impacts, and optimize future SAF production systems. By achieving these objectives, TAKE-OFF contributes to the European Green Deal, Renewable Energy Directive II, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, supporting the transition to sustainable aviation.
Keywords: Sustainable aviation fuel, CO₂ utilization (CCU), Power-to-liquid (PtL)
Project Link:
TAKE-OFF
Walnut
Closing wastewater cycles for nutrient recovery
Duration: 09/2021 – 02/2026
Funding: the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement N° 101000752.
Status: Completed
About the Project
The WalNUT project’s mission was to develop concepts and technologies to rethink and redesign nutrient value chains from different wastewater streams (industrial and municipal) and brine, aligned with EIP Agrifood and Raw Materials goals. A range of physico-, electro-, and biological processes were tested at lab scale, with the most promising technologies being adopted at pilot-scale by a consortium of European industrial and academic stakeholders. The five pilots targeted high nutrient recovery for biobased fertilizer use and low environmental impact, alongside thorough output product quality assessment to support market positioning. Performance was evaluated using thorough techno-economic (TEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA), advancing technologies to TRL 4–6. The project also aimed to facilitate the shift from waste treatment to resource recovery, raising awareness and engaging relevant stakeholders via workshops, showcase events, exchange platforms, informative guides, and audiovisual material.
Keywords: wastewater valorization, nutrient recovery, biofertilizer production
Project Link:
Walnut
