A new video news release from the WalNUT project highlights an innovative approach to fertiliser production that could reduce mineral fertiliser use by up to 25%, while helping Europe decrease pollution, lower energy consumption and curb reliance on imported resources.

Europe’s dependence on imported nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium is both a strategic risk and a climate burden. In Spain, microalgae are being used to extract these nutrients directly from food-industry wastewater. Could this be the breakthrough that finally puts home-grown bio-fertilisers on an equal footing with synthetic ones?

As new genomic techniques blur the line between natural and engineered plants, detecting tiny DNA edits has become a scientific puzzle.
Researchers are developing tools capable of spotting even single-letter changes in crops.
At stake: a transparent food system – and consumers’ right to know what they eat. 

The dairy sector underpins Europe’s economy and rural life, but its byproducts can cause serious environmental harm. New upcycling solutions turn these waste streams into clean water and phosphate-rich biofertilizers, but experts warn: “Scaling them will require more investment and testing beyond pilot projects.”

With plastic pollution suffocating the planet, a new generation of bioplastics could change the game. Made from poultry waste, it replaces fossil-based polymers with biobased ones, bringing us closer to truly sustainable packaging. But experts warn: “For this to be a revolution, policies must support the sector.”

If you didn’t get what the bioeconomy is, you probably took it too seriously. International success-stories and growing interest by the education and business world confirms it: “Games are the key. Playing and having fun help people learn circularity and save the planet” 

“Without further investments in the bioeconomy, the net zero emission target will not be met”. Data issued from the EU project Biomonitor point out gaps in the Green Deal and suggest speeding up procedures: “New technologies must be fostered but length and complexity of the European approval process risk discouraging the investors”

The bioeconomy could play a significant role in Europe’s recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, if governments and industries capitalize on shifting demands and priorities, adapt to the new funding realities and learn some lessons regarding prevention rather than adaptation

Biodegradable nappies and sanitary pads could reduce the burden that fossil-based plastic litter puts on nature. The prototypes currently developed are meant to be of higher quality, but still they are more expensive than the similar conventional products on the market

Surfboards are not as eco-friendly as you might think. Could bio-based materials and new technological developments help?

Bitumen is a by-product of oil production and is used to bind the surfaces of paved roads. Some researchers, concerned about its environmental impacts and future supply if petroleum refining slows down, have started to develop bio-based alternatives

Disposing of agricultural waste is an expensive and complicated issue for many farmers. But now a number of innovative companies are turning this waste into clothes for us to wear

With the onset of winter, Europe's ski season is in full swing. To help you perfect your turns and hold your line down the slope, ski and snowboards are surprisingly complex pieces of equipment, but they are also increasingly bio-based

Across Europe rules about the disposal of organic household rubbish vary. Some waste management companies let people line their food waste caddies with compostable plastic bags, while others ban all plastics from organic waste bins

Every year the European car industry uses around 80,000 tonnes of wood and plant fibres to reinforce composites, instead of employing synthetic fibres like glass and carbon fibre

To date, most 3D printed buildings have been built from concrete. Could bioplastics be a more sustainable option?

The use of natural materials is growing rapidly in Argentina and other South American countries. Technical progress and policy implementation seem to go hand in hand

Air pollution is a major public health issue worldwide. Filters can help improve the quality of the air we breathe, but they also contribute to landfill when they are finished with and thrown away, as they are often made of plastic. Could bio-based filters be the answer?

Dealing with hospital waste can be a logistical nightmare. But some believe that if medical centres switched to bio-based and biodegradable disposable products, they could simplify their waste management and see other benefits, such as a lower carbon footprint and a reduction in hospital acquired infections