In addition to being known in Limburg for their Burgundian lifestyle, they work hard on healthy food and a healthy living environment. Making agriculture and industry more sustainable is an important part of this. The Province of Limburg is therefore making more than 600.000 euros available for the 'Circular cultivation and chemistry' project. Europe contributes almost 2 million euros. The project investigates residual flows of local products such as asparagus, strawberries and grapes as alternative raw materials. This is not only sustainable, but can also be financially interesting for agricultural entrepreneurs.
Bio raw materials
The researchers behind the 'Circular Cultivation and Chemistry' project see the enormous potential of biological material. They want to utilize this by researching alternative and sustainable cultivation techniques. This concerns the use of residual flows and emphatically not the cultivation of bio-based raw materials instead of food or forests. Residual material left over after the cultivation of grapes, blueberries, strawberries and asparagus, for example, is broken down into biomolecules. This means that the material does not end up on the compost heap, but undergoes a technical process of bio-extraction and synthetic upgrading. The project aims to answer three questions from a biological, technological and economic perspective.
Organic: cultivation and breeding
This research involves collaboration with growers and their trade organizations in both Flemish and Dutch Limburg. After growing their fruits or vegetables, the leaves, twigs and stems are not left on the land. The residual flow of food crops is examined for their potential as alternative raw materials for fine chemicals, medicines or high-quality materials. The influence of cultivation and growing conditions of food crops on the potential of this residual flow is taken into account.
Technological: refining and conversion
The petrochemical industry now produces highly developed materials, but due to climate problems, it must look for alternative building blocks for fine chemicals, medicines or high-quality materials. What technology is needed in the field of biorefinery and sustainable advanced conversion for these 'smart materials of the future'? To answer this question, initiator Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Biobases Materials (AMIBM) works closely with various partners. These are located on Brightlands Campuses (Maastricht University, CompasAgro) and in Flanders (pcfruit, Hasselt University and Centexbel). Both AMIBM and Centexbel have extensive experience in the development of materials that can be directly applied in industry and trade.
Economic: purchase and sales value
The agricultural sector is looking for new ways to generate income and improve value chains that contribute to a circular economy, more sustainable production and consumption and healthy nutrition. At the same time, the industry wants to keep costs low. How do we bring the economic value of cyclical chains for biobased raw materials close to current production methods?
Win win situation
Within the 'Circular cultivation and chemistry' project, work is being done to make agriculture and industry more sustainable. We are proud to contribute financially to this with our own policy resources and mediation towards European support. 'Circular cultivation and chemistry' is an exemplary project in several respects. They were one of the first applicants to Interreg Flanders – Netherlands, a European Regional Development Fund. More information about the project and its European financing can be found via Circulaire Cultivation and Chemistry – Border Region
Source: Province of Limburg
