The circular bioeconomy team
On July 17th, ONE EARTH co-organized and joined the first internal cluster workshop bringing together three Horizon Europe projects – ONE EARTH, PROMISEANG and VALORISH – united by a common goal: transforming residual biomasses from the marine and agro-food sectors into high-value bio-based products. This first joint meeting created a space for scientific exchange, technical alignment and exploration of potential synergies, setting the foundation for closer cooperation across our cluster.
An interconnected and circular carbon cycle
ONE EARTH partners opened the session by sharing our current results and integrated approach to circular valorisation. Our project focuses on three distinct but interlinked biomass streams – cheese whey, chicken feathers, fish scales and bones – which we process through a cascade of biotechnological and thermochemical methods. The aim is to generate value chains that span multiple sectors, from nutraceuticals and cosmetics to fish feed and sustainable fertilizers.
From waste to high-value products
The process begins with cheese whey, which undergoes anaerobic fermentation to produce volatile fatty acids (VFAs). These VFAs serve as a carbon source for microbial production of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which are also obtained via algae cultivation using CO₂ emissions recovered from the fermentation process.
At the same time, protein-rich by-products like chicken feathers and fish scales are subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis to extract bioactive peptides. Fish bones, enriched with organic residues, are treated thermochemically to recover phosphorus, yielding a fertilizer suitable for agricultural use.
What distinguishes our approach is not only the diversity of materials and processes involved, but the systemic logic that connects them. One output becomes the input for another, creating circular loops that minimise waste and maximise value.
PROMISEANG and VALORISH: alternatives for similar waste streams
Following our presentation, partners from PROMISEANG introduced their work on producing microbial proteins from underexploited marine biomass, including invertebrates, macroalgae and industrial by-products. Their process leverages microbial fermentation using fungi, yeast and bacteria to generate high-quality protein biomass for use in food, feed, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
The VALORISH team then presented their cascade biorefinery model, which aims to valorise fish processing waste such as skin, bones and viscera into a portfolio of high-value products. These include bioactive peptides, collagen, lipids and mineral fractions, obtained through an optimised sequence of enzymatic extraction, separation and purification steps. Their approach is supported by computational tools and thorough environmental and techno-economic assessments.
Synergies toward a co-created bio-based future
Despite differences in feedstock and final products, the three projects share several technical and strategic points in common. All aim to recover valuable compounds from biological residues through sustainable, scalable and safe methods.
The workshop also confirmed a mutual interest in deepening collaboration. Several ideas emerged during the discussion, including the organisation of future joint sessions on specific thematics, such as socio-economic, environmental and circular impact assessment. The collaborative air sparked also interest in making potential joint scientific publications and coordinated presence at conferences and EU-level events.
In line with the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, which emphasises the importance of circularity, innovation and resilience across sectors, this cluster exemplifies the diversity of solutions needed to tackle the complexity of resource valorisation. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. What Europe needs is a mosaic of research efforts, complementary technologies and collaborative ecosystems capable of turning biological waste into opportunity, locally and globally.
Looking ahead
We look forward to co-creating the next steps toward shared innovation and impact. The next joint activity is already in preparation… stay tuned, it will be open to all stakeholders!