Food4Sustainability has joined the European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF) network.
Since the industrial revolution, we have been living in a linear economy. Our consumer and single use lifestyle have made the planet a “take, make, dispose” world.
This refers to the unidirectional model of production: natural resources provide our factory inputs, which are then used to create mass-produced goods to be purchased and, typically, disposed after single use. This model is testing the limits of the planet.
Currently we may be consuming resources at a 50% faster rate than can be replaced, while by 2030 our demand will require more than two planets worth of natural resources if they are to be met and, by 2050, three planets’ worth.
The pressure for transitioning from a linear to a circular model has been high in the European agenda. Initiatives such as Bio Based Economy paves the way for the renewal of European industries and primary sectors through bio-based innovation, the provision of food and nutrition security and the valorisation and protection of ecosystems and biological resources.
It addresses the twin challenges of achieving a climate neutral economy by 2050 and preserving Europe’s natural environment.
Towards this vision of economic transformation, ECBF funds and supports ambitious entrepreneurs working for the European circular bioeconomy. It is as a financial instrument for the bio-based companies based in Europe.
ECBF is looking for new technologies and business models in agri-tech industry, focusing on later stage business acceleration.
An initiative for the European Investment Bank and the European Commission, the goal is to bring circular technologies faster to the market.
With a €250 million fund, European circular bioeconomy has an extra incentive towards making Europe climate neutral by 2050.
Portfolio companies include Aphea.Bio biological products that help reducing fertilizer application and controlling fungal disease for maize and wheat in a sustainable way.
Peel Pioneer provides a circular solution to fruit peel, transforming what otherwise would end in incineration on oil for food manufactures and other non-food products such as detergents and cosmetics.
Prolupin isolates protein for lupins as a soy substitute. Their consumer brand “Made with LUVE” offers yoghurts, milk, ice cream, cream cheese all lupin based.
Food4Sustainability has partnered with ECBF to bring new financial opportunities to Portuguese new ventures that wish to accelerate their businesses beyond pilot stage and wish to grow their business.
According to the report of the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) about the potential of Portugal for the bio-based industry (Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC), 2018), Portugal has a significant potential for the implementation of circular bioeconomy. Agri-food and forest have been crucial sectors of the national economy.
The substantial number of by-products and waste from these sectors and the related processing industries are potential suppliers of biomass for the development of new bio-based products.
Food4Sustainability has the goal to promote the transition to sustainable agri-food systems and strongly supports the Green Deal goals working under circular economy systems for the primary sector.
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