Abstract:
Biotechnology has the potential to reduce the impact of human activities on nature. By developing new bio-based production platforms
towards a more efficient use of waste streams, a step forward in industrial circularity can be achieved. CHEERS is a new biorefinery
concept, inspired by natural biodiversity (insect and microbial platforms), to sustainably and efficiently upgrade underused or waste side-streams
such as bagasse, wastewater, CO2 and CH4 from bio-based industries into innovative bio-based products. CHEERS will help bio-based
industries improve their feedstock use efficiency and overall sustainability and competitiveness via upcycling and cascading use
of biomass produced from their side-streams. CHEERS is developed as a modular solution where bio-based industries can configure their
optimal combination by selecting among 5 novel biotechnological routes which generate 5 bio-based products for industrial applications,
with attractive market opportunities: insect protein, disinfectant, microbial protein, ectoine and caproic acid. All value chains are based on
new bioprocesses and/or innovative biofermenters combined with sustainable downstream processes, which will be validated at demo scale
at an industrial brewery. A minimum 45% carbon footprint reduction will be achieved in each value chain. The evaluation of CHEERS
impacts will go beyond the classic LCA and will cover broader impacts such as biodiversity and land use. The beer company
MAHOU is project coordinator and exploitation leader jointly with 11 partners from 5 European countries, including technology suppliers,
end-users and research entities. CHEERS will contribute to a “zero waste” biorefinery approach, fully aligned with the EU Green Deal,
Circular Economy Action Plan and Bioeconomy Strategy, and foster the understanding of biotechnology-based value chains through the
engagement of relevant actors, from small bio-based industries to consumers.
Dissemination/Transfer
