We are pleased to announce the signing of the RUSTICA project where through a transdisciplinary multi-actor approach, we aim to validate, demonstrate and integrate six technological options for mineral nutrient recovery from fruit and vegetable waste streams in multi-valorisation configurations across 4 regions in the European Union. The project will be validated in the context of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), through a close cooperation with The Alliance Bioversity-CIAT in Colombia. Besides technical development, the project will aim to co-develop practical circular bio-based business models for the valorisation of vegetable and fruit waste streams via biofertilizer production.
The participants that are involved in this project include University of Leuven, Organic Waste Systems NV, Chambre Régionale d’Agricultures des Pays de la Loire, BioSabor, S.A.T., Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria, Fundacion para las Tecnologias Auxiliares de la Agricultura, Avecom NV, Entomo Consulting S.L., Particula Group d.o.o., Wiedemann GmbH, IDConsortium SL, Stichting CropEye, Eigen Vermogen van het Instituut voor Landbouw, Visserij en Voedingsonderzoek, The Netherland’s Organisation of Applied Scientific Research, Universiteit Gent, from across European Union, The Alliance Bioversity-CIAT, and The International Center for Tropical Agriculture of the CGIAR. The call ID is under CE-RUR-08 and proposal ID is SEP-210640749.
###
About RUSTICA
The RUSTICA project aims to foster the technical validation, demonstration and implementation of bio-based fertiliser and soil improvement production techniques focusing on waste from the fruit and vegetable agro-food system to close nutrient cycles on a regional level. An estimated 70 million tonnes of dry matter of field crop residues could be sustainably harvested for valorization. However, 1.5 million tonnes is lost. The project wants to bridge this gap between the nutrient losses in the form of agricultural residues and the nutrient imports in Europe by integrating and demonstrating 6 complementary technologies with high nutrient recovery potential to treat residues from the fruit and vegetable sector. For future information, please visit https://rusticaproject.eu/ very soon.
About IDConsortium
IDConsortium is a consultancy firm founded in Seville, Spain, in 2009 with the aim of helping researchers and businesses to internationalise and showcase their R&D by joining international consortiums to pursue different lines of research, development, and innovation. The firm is an offshoot of IDAction S.L., a company with a wide range of experience in managing R&D, innovation, and investment projects. We help promote clusters and sectorial organizations reach their potential at a national and international level. With our experience and involvement in various international innovation projects, we provide strategic advice in the following areas: Industrial Biotechnology, Advanced production systems in Agriculture, Livestock and Aquaculture based on Industry 4.0., and Innovative systems while promoting an active, healthy, and sustainable aging. Visit www.idconsortium.es/ for more information.
