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Earth-to-marine-to-earth virtuous cycle: Harnessing residual biomass of animal origin for terrestrial-marine integrated circular economy (ONE EARTH)

Project description

Marine and terrestrial biomass for an integrated circular economy

Waste streams from the dairy, poultry and fishing industries represent untapped potential for Europe’s bioeconomy. The EU-funded ONE EARTH project is developing innovative bio-based solutions by exploiting animal-origin residual biomass to produce cosmetics, fish feed, bioadhesives and fertilisers. The project is testing anaerobic fermentation as a method to transform cheese whey into carbon sources for microbial oils, and microbial and enzymatic processes to extract polypeptides from feathers and scales. The aim is to create a vital bridge between terrestrial and marine resources. This approach will strengthen European industrial competitiveness through sustainable, market-ready alternatives for the cosmetics, aquaculture and agriculture sectors.

Objective

"ONE EARTH aims to develop and assess innovative bio-based solutions for the production of nutraceutical/cosmetic, bioadhesive, agriculture (fertilizers), and aquaculture (fish feed) products by exploiting residual biomass of animal origin. The overall purpose of ONE EARTH is to develop integrated circular value chains by valorising marine biomass for terrestrial products and using terrestrial biomass for aquaculture product production thus promoting a sustainable and ""self-reinforcing"" carbon cycle.
ONE EARTH will obtain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and polypeptides that make up nutraceuticals, cosmetics and fish feed products through the transformation of specific residual biomass, mainly using biotechnological strategies. In particular, cheese whey (CW), i.e. the most abundant liquid waste from dairy industries, will undergo anaerobic acidogenic fermentation processes for the production of volatile fatty acids (VFAs), which will be used as a carbon source for the production of PUFAs by culturing pure microbial strains.
A massive valorisation of CW carbon will be assured by exploiting CO2-rich gaseous streams from fermentation processes for cultivation of algae and further extractions of PUFA. Moreover, chicken feathers and fish scales will be processed using microbial and enzymatic approaches to obtain polypeptides, while fishbones will be treated with a thermochemical innovative process together with organic residues from other project units to produce Phosphorus-rich fertilizers.
Dedicated standard tests in significant environments will be carried out to evaluate the safety and quality of developed products. Consequently, the economic, environmental and social sustainability and viability of the whole proposed integrated circular value chain will be assessed. The compliance with standards and regulations of developed solutions will also be considered to assess the project potential and opportunities to promote industrial initiatives and new business."

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Keywords

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions

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Call for proposal

(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL6-2023-CIRCBIO-02

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Coordinator

ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - UNIVERSITA DI BOLOGNA
Net EU contribution
€ 643 936,00
Address
VIA ZAMBONI 33
40126 Bologna
Italy
Region
Nord-Est Emilia-Romagna Bologna
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
€ 643 936,25

Participants (14)

Partners (1)