Italiano
- Compostable bioplastics
- Biofertilizers
- Biopesticides
- Bio-immunostimulants for crops
- Bioenergy
The OLinWASTE consortium consists of nine partners across four European countries, including:
- Universities of Sapienza, Padua, Cranfield, Burgos, and Surrey
- Research centers such as the Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, RISE Processum, and Research Institutes of Sweden
- The company Agrolio–Agroenergy (already managing a biogas plant)
- The innovation cluster CLIC Innovation Oy
Launched in June 2024 at Sapienza University of Rome, the project is funded by the Horizon Europe program and aims to revolutionize the management of waste from olive oil production by developing an integrated zero-emission biorefinery.
The project addresses a major environmental challenge for Mediterranean countries: the management of waste from olive mills—such as pomace, pits, and leaves—which, if not properly treated, represent a significant source of soil and water pollution. These by-products are highly organic and contain phenols and other toxic compounds, requiring innovative solutions for their valorization.
The approach is based on green chemistry processes and advanced microbial biotechnologies, aimed at the sustainable transformation of waste. A key element is the development of the System Digital Twin, a digital replica of the physical plant designed by the University of Surrey. Through machine learning, this system will simulate real-time operational scenarios to optimize environmental performance, reduce costs, and minimize emissions.
“It will allow us to explore multiple operational configurations and increase industrial resilience.”
The implementation of the integrated plant will not only drastically reduce the environmental impact of the olive oil sector, but also generate important socioeconomic benefits:
- Creation of new sustainable industrial supply chains
- Strengthening of the Mediterranean circular bioeconomy
- Dissemination of replicable technological best practices in other agri-food sectors
Moreover, the production of bioplastics from pomace and plant waste can contribute to achieving the European goals of decarbonization and plastic waste reduction, in line with the European Green Deal and the EU Action Plan for Circular Economy.
OLinWASTE stands as a paradigm of systemic innovation, combining environmental sustainability, industrial efficiency, and the valorization of local resources. The adoption of integrated technological solutions, along with a participatory transnational governance model, paves the way for a future in which agri-industrial waste is no longer a problem, but a strategic resource for a more resilient and competitive European bioeconomy.