H2020 AgroCycle Project: Sustainable Techno-Economic Solutions for the Agricultural Value Chain
- Type Project
- Status Filled
- Execution 2016 -2019
- Assigned Budget 6.960.293,75 €
- Scope Europeo
- Main source of financing H2020
- Project website Proyecto AgroCycle
Continued population and consumption growth are driving global demand for food, and agricultural activity is increasing to keep pace. Europe has a serious agricultural waste problem, generating around 700 million tons of waste annually. There is an urgent need and a significant opportunity to address the efficient use of agricultural waste, co-products, and by-products (ABCs) to achieve sustainable value chains in the agricultural and processing sectors. Therefore, AgroCycle will convert low-value agricultural waste into high-value products, achieving a 10% increase in waste recycling and recovery by 2020.
This will be achieved by developing a detailed and comprehensive understanding of waste streams and testing several key waste utilization/valorization pathways. It will take technologies and systems from ~TRL4 to ~TRL7 over the 3-year project duration. A post-project commercialization plan will take commercially promising technologies/systems to TRL8 and TRL9, ensuring that AgroCycle has a lasting impact by achieving sustainable use of AWCB both within and outside the agricultural sector, leading to the realization of a circular economy. AgroCycle addresses waste from several agricultural sectors: wine, olive oil, horticulture, fruit, grassland, pigs, dairy, and poultry.
The AgroCycle consortium is a large (25) multinational group (including China) comprising the necessary and relevant multiple actors (i.e. researchers; companies from the technical, manufacturing, advisory and retail sectors (large and SMEs); lead users; end-users; and trade/producer associations) to achieve the ambitious project objectives. The unique regional (rural) location of agriculture means that AgroCycle will help to bridge the EU innovation gap and address regional smart specialisation strategies for each partner country: the impact will be regional with national and international dimensions. The presence of three partners from China ensures international synergies and a global impact.
The project adopted a holistic, systems-based approach to addressing the implementation of a "circular economy" in the agri-food sector, addressing all stages, from farm to consumer, and the valorization pathways. Agri-food waste value chain assessment: This work began with the quantification of available agri-food waste resources in Europe and China. Data quality guidelines were created for the collection and processing of agricultural waste, co-products, and by-products (AWCB) data. Energy extraction: The use of energy extraction through anaerobic digestion (AD) was addressed. A dry AD process for chicken manure was installed on a test farm, commissioned, and its performance was evaluated.
The effectiveness of a pre-processing nitrogen removal step was evaluated on a pilot scale. Lignocellulosic AWCBs: This included bioethanol production, and specific pretreatment techniques were developed to increase bioethanol production; and biobutanol production was evaluated for various acidic and alkaline pretreatments. Fast pyrolysis was employed to maximize the creation of liquid biofuels (bio-oil) and soil fertilizers (biochar) from lignocellulosic AWCBs. Air-cathode microbial fuel cells (MFCs) were operated to generate bioelectricity from AD digestates and industrial wastewater, and their potential was evaluated. Biofertilizers: Numerous biofertilizers (BF) extracted from waste streams were evaluated for their C and N mineralization dynamics. The agronomic and environmental impacts of selected BFs were assessed on test crops of zucchini, lettuce, winter oats, wheat, and rice. Wastewater: Bench-scale membrane-based technologies for the extraction of polyphenols and single-cell proteins (SCPs) from a variety of fruit processing wastewater samples were evaluated and optimized. A bench-scale two-stage anaerobic/aerobic MBR pilot system was operated that produced biogas and recovered nutrients from fruit processing wastewater. A matrix decision support system was created to identify the optimal bench-scale bioreactor for pig slurry bioremediation. Six different bio-based materials (AWCBs) were evaluated for their ability to biosorb P and N. High-value products from AWCBs: Techniques for the extraction of proteins, phenolic compounds, and fibers from potato waste were developed. The bioplasticizing potential of potato juice proteins and rice bran oils (RBOs) was assessed. The use of potato pulp as a biocomposite filler was evaluated; new bakery recipes were developed. Life cycle analysis and life cycle costing: A holistic LCA considering physical (e.g., soil carbon losses, GHG emissions, etc.), social, and economic impacts. Knowledge, training, and dissemination platform: The Joint Stakeholder Platform (JSP) and educational modules targeting youth (see: www.agrocycle-platform.eu) were piloted in schools in Ireland and China. Stakeholders participated in numerous events (national and international workshops, conferences, and exhibitions) and on social media, primarily Twitter.
Updates on AgroCycle aspects were disseminated electronically to 300,000 teachers in Ireland through the weekly eLeathanach newsletter. Sustainable Value Chains and Business Models: A holistic integration of the multifaceted aspects of the AgroCycle work program was undertaken to provide an integrated assessment of how agri-food circular economy systems would function in practice. Comprehensive value chain analyses were generated, including new business models for the agricultural sectors and for the wine/horticulture and fruit/grassland sectors, including farm-to-farm, processing, and retail. These various scenarios were peer-reviewed by stakeholders at a special workshop on sustainable agricultural production systems and value chains, and the results were published. Impacts of the Innovation: A project website and profiles on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn were established. An internal project management and document-sharing platform was created. Numerous applications were submitted to national and international funding calls, utilizing both AgroCycle partners and external partners. The AgroCycle marketplace, an agri-food waste trading platform, was designed and launched online to connect supply with demand.
Europe generates 1.3 billion tons of waste annually, 700 million of which come from the agri-food sector. Based on projections of global population growth, the best estimates indicate the need to increase food production by two-thirds by 2050 to feed 2 billion more people. Europe has a responsibility to lead the way in addressing this major existential challenge for humanity. While this is a daunting task, it represents a significant opportunity for Europe to develop and implement new sustainable "circular economy" practices across its agri-food sector, generating new commercial, environmental, and social benefits.
The overall objective of AgroCycle was to develop the AgroCycle Protocol, a model for a sustainable agri-food circular economy. The project took a holistic approach to understanding and addressing how to optimize the use of all waste streams associated with the agri-food industry. Its goal was to develop, demonstrate, and validate new processes, practices, and products for the sustainable use of agricultural waste, co-products, and by-products (ABPs), based on increasing the recycling, reuse, and valorization rates of these waste streams. A key aspect of its approach was to educate the next generation (i.e., young people) about the circular economy and how their lifestyles influence it. Its objective was to offer a platform that would serve as a gateway for the commercial implementation of a circular agri-food bioeconomy.
Continued population and consumption growth is driving global food demand, and agricultural activity is increasing to keep pace. Europe has a significant agricultural waste problem, generating around 700 million tons of waste annually. There is an urgent need and significant opportunity to address the efficient use of agricultural waste, co-products, and by-products (AWCB) to achieve sustainable value chains in the agricultural and processing sectors. As such, AgroCycle will convert low-value agricultural waste into high-value products, achieving a 10% increase in waste recycling and valorization by 2020. This will be achieved by developing a detailed and holistic understanding of waste streams and piloting several key waste utilization/valorization pathways.
It will bring technologies and systems from ~TRL4 to ~TRL7 within the three-year project period. A post-project commercialization plan will bring commercially promising technologies/systems to TRL8 and TRL9, ensuring that AgroCycle has a lasting impact by achieving sustainable use of AWCB both within and outside the agricultural sector, leading to the realization of a Circular Economy.
AgroCycle addresses waste from several agricultural sectors: wine, olive oil, horticulture, fruit, grassland, pig, dairy and poultry. The AgroCycle consortium is a large (25) multinational group (including China) comprising the multiple necessary and relevant actors (i.e. researchers; companies from the technical, manufacturing, advisory and retail sectors (large and SMEs); lead users; end-users; and trade/producer associations) to achieve the project’s ambitious objectives. The unique regional (rural) location of agriculture means that AgroCycle will help bridge the EU innovation gap and address regional smart specialization strategies for each partner country: the impact will be regional with national and international dimensions. The presence of three partners from China ensures international synergies and a global impact.
An EU-funded initiative explored the best possible use of waste streams associated with the agri-food sector to reduce food waste by 50% by 2030. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs has estimated that agricultural and food production must increase by two-thirds by 2050 to feed 2 billion more people. However, around one-third of the food produced (approximately 1.3 billion tons each year) is lost or wasted. In Europe alone, approximately 700 million tons of agricultural waste are generated annually. There is therefore an urgent need to ensure the efficient use of agricultural waste, co-products, and by-products (AWCB) and to create sustainable value chains in the agricultural and processing sectors. The EU-funded AgroCycle project addressed the waste problem from several agricultural sectors, including wine, olive oil, horticulture, fruit, pasture, pigs, dairy, and poultry. The consortium comprised a multinational group of 26 partner organizations from China and Europe. Members included researchers, companies from the technical, manufacturing, consulting, and retail sectors (both large and SMEs), end-users, and trade/producer associations. Greater understanding of waste streams The initiative aimed to convert low-value agricultural waste into high-value products, achieving a 10% increase in waste recycling and valorization by 2020. “This can be achieved by developing a detailed and comprehensive understanding of waste streams and piloting a number of key waste utilization/valorization pathways,” says project coordinator Dr. Tom Curran of University College Dublin, Ireland.
Project partners provided industry with the technologies and knowledge needed to turn challenges related to margin squeeze, resource efficiency, and sustainability into business opportunities by developing innovative applications of low-value agricultural waste (AWCB) and creating new sustainable value chains. Researchers also designed an agricultural waste value chain assessment to map, characterize, and quantify available AWCB. The consortium evaluated biowaste valorization options, focusing on biofuels, biofertilizers, and agro-industrial wastewater treatment, as well as animal manure for high-value-added biopolymers, energy, and microbial fuel cells. Life cycle assessment and life cycle costing helped determine the environmental and economic sustainability of the valorization options.
Maynooth University in Ireland also developed and piloted a tailored education program for young people. Benefits for the Bioeconomy In addition, the team developed sustainable value chains and business models to propose better ways to utilize agricultural waste in the bioeconomy and develop robust new business models. "We developed an online trading platform, 'AgroCycle Marketplace,' to connect producers of agricultural waste, co-products, and by-products with those who could potentially utilize these materials, for example, biogas plant operators," explains Dr. Curran.
Circular economy lesson plans have also been developed for use in schools, and teachers can download the lessons from the website for free. The learning materials won an award in the 'Think Biobased Challenge'. According to Dr. Curran, a key contribution that AgroCycle will make is the decoupling of growth and competitiveness between agriculture and industry and their environmental impact. "The economic development aspirations of our private industrial sector are fully compatible with reducing the impacts of climate change, increasing energy security, and ecological diversity in a green economy," he states. AgroCycle will benefit consumers, farmers, food processors, teachers, and schoolchildren. The project will enhance the competitiveness of the EU and international agricultural, food, and biorefinery industries. It will also promote rural development through the sustainable supply of biorefinery feedstocks and active participation in the global industrial value chain, Dr. Curran concludes.
AgroCycle is a fundamental work with a broad impact on the implementation of a pan-European agri-food circular economy. It has integrated the multiple facets of an integrated agri-food system into a general protocol for the implementation of an integrated agri-food circular economy, which addresses various scenarios for implementing a circular economy across the agri-food sector. This circular economy is based on the utilization of agricultural waste, co-products, and by-products (ABPs). The AgroCycle Protocol uses a bottom-up approach, classifying and quantifying the range of ABPs available in Europe (and China), and identifying key valorization pathways.
It has also developed and piloted (now commercializing) a commercial platform (www.agrocycle-platform.com) that enables the supply of a steady stream of AWCB as a feedstock for the European agri-food circular economy and associated bioeconomy. As part of this, it has addressed the potential impact on soils of moving waste off-farm for use in other areas of the economy. The circular economy and bioeconomy only make sense if they are sustainable from an LCA perspective.
Overall, life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies have been developed that allow for a holistic assessment of impacts from a variety of environmental and socioeconomic perspectives. The AgroCycle Kids platform has made significant strides in educating the next generation (i.e., young people) about the importance of the circular economy and how their lifestyles can have a significant impact on the planet. The extensive social media engagement and feedback obtained demonstrate that AgroCycle has established a profile in the agri-food sector and the wider community.
- UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, DUBLIN (NUID UCD)
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