BioBoost newsletter July 2018
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T-SHIRT OF TOMATO STEMS?
BioBoost contributes to research possibilities
The textile industry is after the oil industry the most polluting in the world. At the same time, there are large amounts of vegetable waste from horticultural areas, such as the stems of tomato plants. Is it possible to use these tomatoes stems as raw material to create and design a Tomato-T-Shirt?
Flashback:
BioBoost seminar: Agro-food waste streams: from cost to source of income
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.
International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed meeting in Madrid (28-29 May 2018)
On the 28 and 29th of May the members of the International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed (IPIFF) met in Madrid. On the first day a new executive committee was elected with Antoine Hubert (Ynsect, France) as President. As it was the first face-to-face meeting since Inagro became a member, this event was an excellent opportunity to meet the founders behind the larger insect companies in Europe and the new start-ups in this sector. We discussed, amongst other things, the possibilities of waste streams, the problems with legislation and the key focus points of IPIFF the next year.
Launch of report “closing the gap” at the Houses of Parliament
On 23 May, 2018, Epping Forest MP The Rt Hon Eleanor Laing hosted a highly successful event at the Houses of Parliament for the launch of a report by the Lea Valley Food Board and key UK partners.
The report, entitled ‘Closing the Gap’, looks at the work of the Food Board over the past four years. The Lea Valley has long been known as an important area of glasshouse horticulture, and is a major UK producer of salad crops.
Being on the outskirts of London means that growers in the Lea Valley face many unique challenges, from the high cost and availability of land for expanding their businesses to enticing and retaining workers who may look to London for other jobs
Partner Inagro visits the International Conference for Bio-based materials in Cologne
On 15 and 16 May more than 30 speakers came to create an extensive image of the State of affairs in the field of bio-based materials. Due to the great interest in the circular and bio-based economy in recent years, this is a field that is rapidly evolving. The importance of bio-based materials works for agriculture in 2 directions: agriculture is necessary for advancement of bio-based materials, but conversely, it can also be of great importance for agriculture itself.
At the Conference in Cologne more than 30 speakers and more than 200 researchers and experts from various sectors came together discuss the progress made and stumbling blocks in the field of bio-based materials. The extensive presentations and bold questions rounds afterwards showed that phenomenal potential in this sector is present. By the large attendance it was also an ideal event for many useful contacts and to discuss the possibilities in the agricultural sector. In the framework of the BioBoost project it seemed very interesting to explore our options within this diverse sector. The problem of valorisation of by-products can be addressed from different angles.
Renewed breeding nets Black Soldier Fly
A year ago partner Inagro gave itselves the assignment upscale the cultivation of black soldier flies to a semi-industrial level. The cultivation of the larvae proceeds controlled and standardized in the meantime. But in the reproduction of flies and the production of eggs the shoe pinches. The egg production was too unpredictable, and - to Inagro’s requirements - also too low. The time had come to assess the method critically. The concept of the breeding cages is refreshed and the first flights are very promising.
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