Bio4UP · Sustainable biochar-enhanced upcycling solutions for Zero-Waste valorization of organic waste into circular economy products

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Project objective

The sustainable management of organic waste is a critical global challenge, leading to greenhouse gas emissions and resource inefficiency utilization. Bio4UP tackles this by developing biochar-enhanced technologies within a zero-waste strategy, integrating biotechnological and catalytic approaches in a circular economy framework. The project aims to: (1) Develop multifunctional biochars for organic waste valorization; (2) Optimize biochar-integrated processes in anaerobic digestion, biogas purification, and catalytic CO2 conversion into methanol or methane to improve efficiency and sustainability; (3) Valorize biochar-containing digestate into biopesticides and biostimulants via solid-state fermentation; (4) Develop decision-support tools and sustainability frameworks to guide circular economy strategies; and (5) Foster interdisciplinary, intersectoral, and international collaboration through staff exchanges and knowledge transfer.Bio4UP aligns with MSCA SE principles by bringing together 9 European beneficiaries (Spain, France, Ireland, Greece, Slovenia) and 2 Latin American partners (Colombia, Peru) from academia, industry, and research institutions. The project mobilizes 302 person-months of staff exchanges, fostering expertise in biochar engineering, process optimization, and sustainability assessment while promoting mutual knowledge exchange between Europe and LMICs. By integrating lab-scale research with pilot-scale validation, Bio4UP bridges scientific innovation and industrial application, supporting the European Green Deal and Horizon Europe’s circular economy objectives. The project advances scalable waste-to-resource pathways, enhancing bioenergy production, reducing emissions, and fostering sustainable agriculture in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals, while strengthening researcher mobility and career development.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

• UNIVERSITAT AUTONOMA DE BARCELONA · Cerdanyola Del VallesCoordinatorSpain
• AERIS TECNOLOGIAS AMBIENTALES SL · CERDANYOLA DEL VALLESSpain
• CONSORCI CENTRE DE CIENCIA I TECNOLOGIA FORESTAL DE CATALUNYA · SolsonaSpain
• DUBLIN CITY UNIVERSITY · DublinIreland
• ETHNIKO KENTRO EREVNAS KAI TECHNOLOGIKIS ANAPTYXIS · THERMI THESSALONIKIGreece
• INSTITUT NATIONAL DE RECHERCHE POUR L'AGRICULTURE, L'ALIMENTATION ET L'ENVIRONNEMENT · ParisFrance
• SERVEIS DE SUPORT A LA GESTIO SL · Vilanova I La GeltruSpain
• UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DEL CENTRO DEL PERU · HUANCAYOPeru
• UNIVERZA V LJUBLJANI · LjubljanaSlovenia
• Universidad Industrial de Santander · BucaramangaColombia
• WINGS ICT SOLUTIONS TECHNOLOGIES PLIROFORIKIS KAI EPIKOINONION ANONYMI ETAIREIA · NEA SMYRNIGreece

Links

• View on CORDIS
• DOI: 10.3030/101236400
• https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/documents/downloadPublic?documentIds=080166e52fc397b7&appId=PPGMS
• https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/documents/downloadPublic?documentIds=080166e52fc88a41&appId=PPGMS