Project description
Microfluidic-structured, cellulose-based mulch films for agriculture
The EIC-funded CELLAGRI project is developing cellulose-based mulch films with passive water management for agriculture and horticulture. It combines plant-based, regenerated and bacterial cellulose with tailored biodegradable coatings that partially impregnate the film to boost tear resistance, stretchability and penetration stability and suppress mould. Nature-inspired microfluidic surface structures (e.g. leaf-like) are created via nano/micro-imprint and validated as low-cost solutions using high-speed electron-beam curing. Atmospheric plasma tuning optimises hydrophobic/hydrophilic regions, improving water control and influencing biodegradability. A modular toolbox will enable adaptation to diverse climates and applications. The project targets TRL 5 through real field tests and ensures scalability via roll-to-roll production, paving the way for broadly available, bio-based, biodegradable and cost-effective films.
Objective
The main idea of the project relies on cellulose-based films featuring passive water management by microfluidic structures. The base material is biobased, biodegradable, and broadly available. Unfortunately, the mechanical properties (tear resistance, stretchability, penetration stability) are not sufficient for agricultural applications. Moreover, in horticulture, cellulose is prone to the formation of fungi and mould. These drawbacks will be overcome by combination of different cellulose types like plant-based cellulose, regenerated cellulose and bacterial cellulose. Additional coatings will be applied that partly immerse the film. Such coatings will be modified in view of its surface structure to achieve water management or avoid mold formation in horticulture. This will be done using imprint technologies in combination with coating technologies. Such nano- or micro-imprint technologies are known to be used for high-end applications like generating lab-on-chip devices for medical applications. A new approach will be investigated using electron beam curing technologies to validate such structuring method in low-cost applications like mulch films utilizing high-speed capabilities of e-beam curing processes. The water management will be nature-inspired mimic e.g. leaf structures. Using atmospheric plasma technologies hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity of structures will be optimized by changes in surface chemistry. Tuning the surface properties will also have an important impact on biodegradability. The goal is to develop a toolbox that allows to use the novel mulch materials for a variety of applications in agriculture and horticulture and at different climate conditions.
Development targets TRL 5 by validating at real field tests. Nevertheless, all different technological building blocks will be scaleable to roll-to-roll production, ensuring high productivity and allowing low-cost products in the future.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology other engineering and technologies microtechnology lab on a chip
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology mycology
- social sciences economics and business economics production economics productivity
- engineering and technology materials engineering coating and films
- agricultural sciences agriculture, forestry, and fisheries agriculture horticulture
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-EIC - HORIZON EIC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-EIC-2024-PATHFINDERCHALLENGES-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
80686 MUNCHEN
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.