Novel, non-plant biomass feedstocks for industrial applications
The innovative bioeconomy sectors need to diversify and to deliver technological and industrial solutions based on available and sustainably accessible biomass. In particular, current plant-based biorefining may need upgrading to leave more land available for biodiversity protection and food production, while allowing the substitution of fossil-based resources with bio-based ones. The scope therefore covers the production of key bio-based products such as food and feed ingredients, including proteins, lipids and fibres, antioxidants and other substances with biological activities, and key bio-based materials (e.g. bio-based plastics, composites, fibres) or chemicals[[Production of bioethanol and other biofuels falls outside the scope of this topic]], in a resource-efficient approach[[e.g. by fully exploiting the cascading use of biomass resulting from agricultural production as growing substrates]]. This calls for identifying and optimising sources as microorganisms, insects, fungi or mixotrophic algae, which requires defining certain growing conditions in suitable systems such as biofermentors[[In connection with topic HORIZON-CL6-2021-CIRCBIO-01-06 “Contained biomass solutions for sustainable and zero-ILUC production systems for high value applications”]], where they need to be efficiently processed, extracted and converted into industrial outputs of interest. Proposals should increase circularity, in particular for the use of biomass residues or side-streams used as feed material, and should deliver necessary upgrades to and upscaling of the strategies for the cultivation, production and extraction systems.
Where relevant, proposals should seek links with and capitalise on the results of past and ongoing research projects (especially under the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking or on microbiomes). Proposals should:
- Develop and demonstrate techno-economic viability of the bio-based production platforms applying the resource efficiency principles (ensuring savings on water, energy, chemical inputs, biomass waste, side-streams or residues), getting more out of less by making use of autotrophic plants and heterotrophs, and applying the modern biotechnological principles. This covers the development of a bio-based microbial production platform for high-value biologically active substances, food/feed ingredients, or bio-based materials as well as efficient separation and extraction approaches for products of interest.
- Identify and implement the best combination of appropriate technical solutions and practices for specific industrial value chains (justifying the choice, including on level of innovation and business viability), as well as the barriers and drivers derived from e.g. governance and market aspects, while seeking the engagement and understanding of all actors.
- Develop and transparently communicate the key parameters to monitor and measure the qualitative and quantitative impacts of these solutions and practices for different sourcing, optimization and production systems, the potential of replacing available traditional alternatives, if relevant, and trade-offs, including on biodiversity, and the associated improvement in socio-economic resilience of businesses, for the creation of jobs and industrial competitiveness.
- Develop and test mechanisms involving all actors and specifically including bio-based industries active in knowledge co-creation, exchange, feedback and communication. Demonstrate them to all actors (e.g. agricultural operators, farmers, SMEs and civil society) and help them implement and understand solutions for new or improved bio-based products and processes and for addressing other environmental impacts e.g. lowered pressure on land and on biodiversity sourcing.
- Consider contributing data and results to the European Commission’s Knowledge Centre for Bioeconomy hosted by the JRC
In this topic it is not mandatory to integrate the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content..