In BioBoost triple helix partners from the Netherlands, Belgium and the United Kingdom work together to stimulate the development of a biobased economy in horticulture.

The horticulture produces large amounts of ‘green waste’ streams, such as plant residues (stems and leaves) and unsellable fruits and vegetables that momentary primarily are thrown away or used for making compost. Also green waste is used for the production of green biogas.

In BioBoost the possibilities for high valorisation of horticultural residues and plant compounds are examined and brought into practice in test and pilot projects by researchers and SMEs jointly.

Also the project will develop activities to strengthen the cooperation of horticultural SMEs, researchers and public authorities in three European horticultural regions. In the UK  this is the Lea Valley area and connected areas, in Belgium the Roeselare region and in the Netherlands the Westland region. In addition the project offers help to SMEs in these regions to develop new concepts and products that make use of plant residues or plant compounds for for example the food and feed industry, pharmaceutic or cosmetic industry or for building materials.

Based on the experiences in the project and elsewhere in the European Union, the project partners want to develop an approach that can be implemented more widely to stimulate the development of a bioeconomy in the horticultural sector. Such a development will mean a win-win situation for the environment and the economy. Horticultural waste streams will be reduced and predominantly be (re)used as basic material for new applications and products. This improves resource efficiency and circularity. That is positive for the environment and combating climate change. At the other hand valorisation of these waste streams will led to extra revenues for the horticultural sector and can strengthen its economic security.Partners:
BioBoost is a cooperation comprising 10 partners from the Netherlands, United Kingdom and Belgium. Leading partner for the project is the municipality of Westland (NL). The other partners are: Catholic University of Belgium (Vives-BE), Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO-BE), Centre of Expertise for Plant Compounds (Kenniscentrum Plantenstoffen-NL), National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB -UK), Inagro (BE), Tomabel (BE), Comgoed (NL), Sustainable Protein (NL) and Epping Forrest District Council (UK).

Observers:
Abbey View Produce (UK), Bio-based Delta Zuid-Holland (NL), Impuls Zeeland (NL), POM-Vlaanderen(BE), Vegepolys (FR)

Duration:
BioBoost runs from January 2017 till June 2020.

Funding:
This project has received funding from the Interreg 2 Seas programme 2014-2020 co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund under subsidy contract No 2S01-038, the province of West Flanders and the province of South Holland.

Partners