The different applications tested and validated during the EXCornSeed project are innovative and scientifically relevant, as they are designed to meet consumers’ requests for healthy, safe and sustainable products and at the same time add new perspectives to a currently under-utilised biomass like rapeseed meal. The application of RSM fractions to high-value market products is in line with current major societal challenges like responsible management of natural resources, valorization of by-products and human health and wellbeing.
EXCornsEED reflects the BIC’s ambitions to contribute to the society’s long-term sustainability. EXCornsEED will accomplish the following KPIs from the BBI programme:
-To create at least 1 new cross-sector interconnection in bio-based economy clusters
-To set the basis for at least 1 new bio-based value chain, 2 different ingredients or additives with purity levels that enable their use in different application fields, further development of new or optimized value chains based on residual streams from the food or feed industry, agricultural activities or biorefineries
-To obtain an overall reduction of at least 10 % in the carbon footprint of the considered bio-based operation compared with the state-of-the-art.
Other impacts will be:
-Innovation capacity: The innovative process for side streams valorisation is the result of the combination of breakthrough innovations in raw material preparation, compounds extraction and ingredients purification, through the concerted collaboration among top players of the EU scientific community and industry with a sound multidisciplinary and inter-sectorial approach. Important advancements will be achieved in important knowledge areas related to extraction/purification/concentration technologies and their integration/upscale, identification and characterization of bioactive compounds, side streams and by-products analysis, combined reaction processes, techno-economic analysis of industrial process with particular focus on combined effects at different levels (process intensification and optimisation), market-monitoring and integrated-processanalysis.
-New market opportunities: The innovative side streams valorisation process implemented through this project, as well as the set of compounds and ingredients targeted will strengthen the competitiveness and growth of EU companies in the new “Green Revolution”. The project will impact biofuels and agro-food industries as well as the cosmetics, food, and specialty chemicals industries involving them in a totally innovative value chain (i.e. side streams providers, technology providers, plant owners, downstream product transformers). EXCornsEED will offer a solution for reducing the use of feedstock for biofuels and agro-food industries at the same time valorising the feedstock side streams and enabling the transformation of European traditional biotech productions into integrated near-zero waste biorefineries.
-Bring benefits for society: EXCornsEED will contribute to a better implementation of the main EU strategic policies and Directives for environmental protection and transition to a green, low-carbon, energy and resource-efficient economy.
