GO DEMOEXTRACT: Multisectoral demonstration of the applicability of bioingredients based on extraction and bioconversion processes for the revalorization of by-products from Andalusia, Extremadura and Murcia
- Type Grupo operativo
- Status In progress
- Execution 2024 -2027
- Scope Supraautonómico
- Autonomous community Andalucía; Extremadura; Murcia, Región de
- Main source of financing PEPAC 2023-2027
GO DEMOEXTRACT is presented as an innovative and integrative proposal for the evaluation and demonstration of the obtaining of new agricultural inputs and food ingredients through extractive technologies and highly efficient and effective bioconversion processes in the field of the revalorization of by-products from the citrus, olive and fruit and vegetable industries. It is a consortium of 3 technological centres (CT TECNOVA, CTAEX and CTNC) and 3 companies (TROIL VEGAS ALTAS, CÍTRICOS DE MURCIA and DOMCA) located in the three regions of action: Andalusia, Extremadura and Murcia, with a solid scientific base within the framework of the project and a demonstrated complementarity.
The GO DEMOEXTRACT project arises as a second phase of the “INNOEXTRACT" project in order to continue the field of research previously opened by the same consortium to achieve two main lines of action; the optimization and extension of the knowledge of the results of greatest impact obtained from the first phase (extracts with high potential for human consumption and agronomy); and the expansion of the logical framework with the inclusion of new by-products from the fruit and vegetable industry, the incorporation of new extractive technologies and processes aimed at the bioconversion of by-products with the potential to be implemented and demonstrated on a real scale and the extension of the sectors of action with the search for new ingredients with improved functionality in animal feed.
GO DEMOEXTRACT is a project focused on the evaluation and demonstration of the production of new agricultural inputs and food ingredients through extractive technologies and highly efficient and effective bioconversion processes in the citrus, olive and fruit and vegetable industries, supported by the establishment of integrative collaboration dynamics involving key actors in the different links of the agri-food value chain.
In short, a global vision is proposed in the field of the circular economy, efficiency in the use of resources and the search for more sustainable alternatives for obtaining potential inputs aligned with the new agricultural model, as well as natural ingredients that allow improving sustainability while guaranteeing food safety and security in the human and animal sectors.
The DEMOEXTRACT project work plan is structured into 8 work packages:
- Development of agro-sustainable transformation processes based on bioconversion technologies and extractive processes for the revalorization of agro-industrial by-products.
- Implementation of extractive technologies and easily reproducible bioconversion processes to obtain compounds of interest.
- Laboratory-scale generation of natural extracts composed of biomolecules with agronomic potential: biofertilizers and biopesticides.
- Development of functional ingredients (immunomodulators, anticancer and antimicrobial) from sustainable extraction technologies with application in human food.
- Pilot-scale production of natural extracts for animal nutrition.
- Identification of extracts with proven agronomic efficacy at different evaluation scales.
- Selection of food ingredients for human and animal nutrition based on their bioactive capacity.
- Promoting the technical development and enrichment of the target group through new competitive business models based on new processes and products under a bioeconomy approach.
The growing demand of citizens is leading to an increase in the consumption of resources, which translates into an accelerated increase in the generation of agro-food waste. Specifically, 47% of agro-food waste is produced in food processing factories. These figures are added to the fact that food waste quantified by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) per inhabitant of the European Union represents, on average, 179 kilos of food thrown away per year (half a kilo of food per day).
This global problem requires measures at all levels, and it is necessary and essential to reduce food loss and waste to create a Zero Hunger world and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), especially SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 12 (Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns).
In this sense, the sustainable valorisation of agri-food by-products has become one of the priorities of the European Commission, being part of the European Plan for the Circular Economy. To give more importance to the valorisation process, it has been proven that certain by-products of the agri-food industry have antimicrobial, antioxidant and antifungal properties and that the extraction of the active compounds and their incorporation into food matrices and packaging can be a viable economic and environmental alternative since, as established by the European Council in its Resolution of 24 February 1997, in the event that the generation of by-products is unavoidable, their reuse or recycling should take priority over energy valorisation, considering them to be more ecologically sustainable options.
Optimize and demonstrate the viability of extractive revalorization and bioconversion processes of agro-food by-products, for the development of high added value ingredients aimed at a competitive and sustainable agro-industry model.
- Development of agro-sustainable transformation processes based on bioconversion technologies and extractive processes for the revalorization of agro-industrial by-products.
- Implementation of extractive technologies and easily reproducible bioconversion processes to obtain compounds of interest.
- Laboratory-scale generation of natural extracts composed of biomolecules with agronomic potential: biofertilizers and biopesticides.
- Development of functional ingredients (immunomodulators, anticancer and antimicrobial) from sustainable extraction technologies with application in human food.
- Identification of extracts with proven agronomic efficacy at different evaluation scales.
- Selection of food ingredients for human and animal nutrition based on their bioactive potential.
- Promoting the technical development and enrichment of the target group through new competitive business models based on new processes and products under a bioeconomy approach.
- Coordinator name: Foundation for Auxiliary Technologies in Agriculture (TECNOVA)
- Postal address: Almeria Technology Park (PITA). Innovation Avenue, 23. '04131 El Alquián – Almeria (Spain)
- Coordinator email: MCGALERA@FUNDACIONTECNOVA.COM
- Telephone: 950290822
In order to ensure the transfer of results to these identified target groups (agri-food and livestock sector, farmers and producers of agricultural inputs and society in general), within the framework of GO DEMOEXTRACT, integrative collaboration dynamics will be promoted that involve key actors in the different links of the agri-food value chain, with the dual objective of providing feedback on specific needs and more adapted solutions, as well as promoting impact and large-scale appropriation in the territory. The interest already shown in the Innovative Project, in the three regions involved, is supported by 20 letters of support obtained in these 8 levels of competences.
- Fundación para las Tecnologías Auxiliares de la Agricultura (TECNOVA)
- DOMCA S.A.U.
- ASOCIACIÓN EMPRESARIAL DE INVESTIGACIÓNCENTRO TECNOLÓGICO NACIONAL AGROALIMENTARIO (CTAEX)
- TROIL VEGAS ALTAS, SOCIEDAD COOPERATIVA
- CITRICOS DE MURCIA S.A.
- ASOCIACIÓN EMPRESARIAL DE INVESTIGACIÓNCENTRO TECNOLÓGICO NACIONAL DE LA CONSERVA (CTNC)
- Fundación para las Tecnologías Auxiliares de la Agricultura (TECNOVA)
Related projects
