The ONE EARTH consortium gathered on 1–2 October 2025 in Vigo, Spain, for its General Assembly meeting, hosted by project partner ANFACO-CYTMA. The event brought together representatives from all partner organisations to review the project’s progress, discuss challenges, and align on upcoming priorities as ONE EARTH moves into its second year.
The meeting opened with a welcome address and practical information from the host organisation, followed by an overview of the project’s current state presented by Principal Investigator Noura Raddadi (UNIBO) and Scientific Coordinator François Bertin. Their introduction provided an update on the overall achievements and ongoing activities across the work packages, setting the stage for in-depth discussions throughout the two days.
The first day focused on technical progress and collaboration between work package teams. Each WP leader provided a concise update on the work performed so far, highlighting progress on deliverables, ongoing research activities, and upcoming tasks. The presentations covered all six work packages, from coordination and data management to research and pilot preparation, enabling an open exchange of views among partners on scientific, technical, and organisational aspects of the project.
In the afternoon, the discussion turned to the three key value chains that form the core of ONE EARTH’s research:
- Cheese whey, managed by VITO and Aarhus University (AAR)
- Chicken feathers, coordinated by UNIVPM
- Fishbones and fish scales, led by ANAVERIS
Each value chain session provided an opportunity for partners to share insights on experimental progress, methodological approaches, and next steps in developing valorisation routes for these biomass streams. These focused discussions helped to identify synergies, overlaps, and potential collaboration between different work packages.
The first day concluded with updates on project coordination and management, including communication activities and general administrative matters. Partners reviewed upcoming milestones and discussed the importance of efficient information flow and cooperation across the consortium.
The second day continued with reflections on the first reporting and review period, led by UNIBO. The discussions addressed progress achieved so far, current challenges, and plans for the next months. Presentations from the project coordination team outlined the forthcoming deliverables, followed by an open Q&A session that allowed partners to clarify next steps and responsibilities.
The meeting closed with a visit to ANFACO-CYTMA’s facilities, where participants gained an overview of the organisation’s research infrastructure and technological capabilities. The visit showcased ANFACO’s long-standing expertise in the agri-food and marine sectors — areas directly relevant to ONE EARTH’s focus on circular value chains linking land and sea.
The General Assembly in Vigo marked an important milestone for ONE EARTH, strengthening internal collaboration and reaffirming the consortium’s commitment to delivering sustainable, science-based solutions for the circular bioeconomy. As the project enters its second year, partners are preparing to translate the groundwork laid in the first phase into concrete pilot activities and practical demonstrations.