In collaboration with the Hamburg University of Technology and funded with a 1.4 million Euro grant from the Volkswagen Foundation, the project aims to transform farming practices.
The use of protein-based biodegradable polymers is gaining momentum but large scale application has been held back by resource limitations and production challenges. Scientists are going to explore how to tackle these challenges by repurposing protein rich waste from agriculture.
Waste products that will be used include rapeseed meal, digestate from biogas plants and poultry feather waste - all of which are underutilised waste from farming. The team will develop two main products: a mulch film and an edible fruit preservation coating with the hope to replace traditional plastic films.
The new green chemistry methodology that we developed for making protein-based films together with the sustainable source of the proteins introduce a new generation of biodegradable bioplastic with wide benefits toward agriculture applications.
Professor Nadav Amdurksky
The project will employ green chemistry for protein extraction and enhance the films with functional additives feeding the crops and also replacing nutrients to the soil as it decomposes. Pilot-scale production and viability will be assessed through techno-economic and life cycle assessments, with stakeholder engagement to ensure real-world uses.
The project aims to significantly advance the sustainable utilisation of agricultural waste. Shifting agriculture towards a circular bioeconomy, addressing environmental concerns and the need for sustainable agricultural materials.