Flashback: BioBoost seminar: Agro-food waste streams: from cost to source of income

Monday 2 July 2018

On Thursday 21 June the BioBoost seminar Agro-food waste streams: from cost to source of income took place at partner in the project Inagro. The partners of the BioBoost project explained their research and some entrepreneurs shared their success stories with more than 70 people who are interested in the bio-based economy with residual flows.

The seminar was about circular economy and the valorisation of waste streams. This was shown first with a residual flow lunch, where attendees could enjoy cuisine based on disapproved vegetables. These vegetables are often different from the shapes you find in the supermarket, but are equally nutritious and delicious.

Bio-based development of horticulture             
Jeroen Straver of municipality Westland explained the BioBoost project. Dr. Lydia Smith of NIAB gave an overview of the quantities available of residual flows at various crops in Belgium, Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Ann Balla of OVAM outlined the legal framework surrounding the use of biomass, after which Tjibbe Winkler gave practical examples of residual flows that are converted to every day products and how this works.

Examples of successful entrepreneurs
Some entrepreneurs explained their creative solutions for the use of residual streams. The soapmakers of Sign/Van Blankensteyn informed us that with straining oranges only half of the fruit is used. This is normally thrown away, but thanks to fermentation, they have developed an efficient and natural cleaning product. And that's just the beginning of the possibilities!

The company Meam gave an explanation on the possible applications of microwave technology in the processing of waste streams. Pending processing residual streams often have to be kept for a while. If you use microwave technology for drying the residue streams, these can be kept longer.

Millibeter grow black soldier flies to transform waste and manure to raw materials for the chemical industry and feed. KOMOSIE/Foodsavers looks at the possibilities for the use of residual streams with a link to social economy and environment. Verduyn cultivates and processes vegetables and examine new opportunities for the valorisation of waste streams. The SUSKOOL-project of Greenyard is looking for optimal valorisation of the cauliflower for the frozen food industry.

The presentations of this seminar can be viewed via the following links:

Partners