Project description
Smart biopolymer films to replace plastics
Food systems, a major driver of plastic pollution, are also vulnerable to its impacts. Replacing fossil-based plastics with sustainable, high-performance alternatives can reduce microplastic contamination. Farmers need mulch and greenhouse covers that boost crop yields without harming ecosystems. Consumers need packaging that protects food and signals spoilage. Current solutions lack functionality and scalability. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the SUSNAMU project will develop advanced biopolymer films from agricultural and food waste. Combining nanocellulose, proteins and bio-additives, the films will serve as smart mulch covers and greenhouse materials, as well as intelligent food packaging with antibacterial and spoilage-detection properties. These next-generation films will help replace fossil-based plastics in farming and packaging.
Objective
Nanocellulose and beta-amyloids proteins derived from waste byproducts, such as banana pseudostems, palm oil empty fruit bunches, discarded milk, and tofu production residues, will be used to fabricate films as alternatives to conventional plastics. These films will be produced using casting and electrospinning techniques, combined with other natural biopolymers, including lignin, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), and bioadditives. Films will be surface engineered with the spray layer by layer technique for the precise control of their surface properties.The films will serve applications in both food packaging and agriculture. For agricultural use, mulch and greenhouse cover films will be designed to exhibit selective gas transport, controlled sunlight transparency, and limited water permeability. Additionally, they will be engineered to release carbon dots infused with nutrients and pesticides into the soil, aiming to improve crop yields and reduce weed colonization. In food packaging, advanced bioelectronics will be integrated to detect pH changes indicative of food spoilage. The inclusion of anthocyanins and photosensitizers will impart antibacterial properties to the films. Smart strategies will be employed to extend the shelf life of packaged food. Furthermore, artificial intelligence (AI) will be utilized to optimize material properties for enhanced performance.The films will be scaled up in a pilot plant and tested in agricultural fields and packaging applications. To achieve the ambitious goals of SUSNAMU—replacing fossil-based plastics in packaging and agriculture while mitigating global microplastic contamination—a diverse global consortium has been assembled. This consortium spans Europe (Germany, Croatia, Spain, Italy, UK), Latin America (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia), and Africa (Senegal), bringing together complementary expertise from academic, industrial institutions, necessary for the successful development and implementation of the project's goals.
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.
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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.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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-TMA-MSCA-SE - HORIZON TMA MSCA Staff Exchanges
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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-MSCA-2024-SE-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.
91058 ERLANGEN
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.