CROPS2INDUSTRY

Non-Food Crops-to-Industry schemes in EU27

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The ultimate objective is to explore the potential of non-food crops, which can be domestically grown in EU27 context, for selected industrial applications, namely oils, fibers, resins, pharmaceuticals and other specialty products and outline and prioritise crops-to-products schemes, suitable for the different Member States, which will support sustainable, economic viable and competitive European bio-based industry and agriculture. The proposed project will be carried in 8WPs. WP1 will report on non-food crops for selected industrial applications. Information will refer to main physical traits, cultivation areas, inputs, supply and logistics, yields, quality issues. WP2 will identify current molecular genetics technologies and suggest their potential applications in a crop-specific manner to address a wide range of breeding constraints. Improvement of non-food crops will entail breeding for agronomically important traits i.e yield and tolerance to abiotic and biotic conditions. WP3 will explore the potential and feasibility of the European industry to make high-value biobased products from non-food crosp and biotechnological routes. WP4 will perform supply chain cost analysis, identify best business opportunities, and assess the socio-economic impacts of selected crop-to-product schemes at EU-27, regional and country levels. WP5 will assess selected production and environmental impacts and identify a ‘core’ list of standards and criteria for the environmental and socio-economic sustainability of selected crops-to-product schemes in a global and country-specific perspective. WP6 will perform an integrated technical, environmental, and economic assessment to help selecting and prioritising non-food crops. WP7 will address dissemination issues. The expected output is to identify whether and under which terms Europe has the potential and the technical competence to develop a competitive bio-industry fed by a sustainable agriculture.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

In a bid to enhance sustainable development and reduce its dependence on imports, the EU is growing crops that are used to manufacture a variety of products or to make biofuel.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Crops are not only valuable as a food source. They provide an amazing variety of renewable non-food products such as fuels, fibres, chemicals, lubricants and construction materials. Such crops can reduce dependence on fossil fuels, diversify agriculture, boost agricultural feedstock markets and promote sustainable development. In this vein the EU-funded project 'Non-food crops-to-industry schemes in EU27' (Crops2industry) looked at how these crops could be grown within EU Member States to reap the rewards.

The project considered supply, consistency, quality, environmental impacts, market demands and price competitiveness in exploring crop growth. It reviewed a number of applicable crops and outlined challenges in large-scale cultivation, focusing on those that have traditionally been grown on the continent. Importantly, the concept of growing non-food crops was based on exploiting surplus land, i.e. land where food crops are not currently being grown.

With particular focus on oils, fibres, resins, pharmaceuticals and feedstock, the project team surveyed industry partners and analysed input, costs and output, facilitating the assessment of socioeconomic impacts. It also simulated production and environmental impacts of selected crops, calculating emissions and organic carbon in topsoil.

Crops2industry published several strategies and papers on non-food use of plant biomass to help develop crops-to-industry schemes. The project also published all its results on a dedicated website, in addition to conducting three workshops and initiating twinning activities such as conferences and workshops with other countries.

Lastly, the project mapped out research priorities for the future, such as identifying new technologies, improving yield, exploiting genomic advances and creating a ranking system for non-food cropping. The latter would be based on technical performance, economic viability and environmental impact to boost bioenergy crop-production schemes in a given region. The implications of such research are pivotal for several sectors of the economy and could lessen our dependence on imports, literally enriching the EU with 'home-grown' products, from fuels to pharmaceuticals.