Today, FOOD+i and Aitiip took part in the CBE JU Stakeholder Forum 2026 in Brussels, one of the key European events for the bioeconomy sector. The forum brings together policymakers, industry leaders and innovators to discuss how Europe can strengthen its industrial leadership in the bioeconomy and help bio-based solutions reach the market.
At the event, we had the opportunity to showcase real samples developed within the BRILIAN project, giving visitors a first-hand look at some of the new bio-based value chains being created from agricultural feedstocks and side streams.
Bio-based samples on display
One of the samples presented was a bio-based mulch for seed potato cultivation, developed as an alternative to straw. Unlike straw, this new mulch degrades faster, is easier to manage in the field and helps reduce dependence on a material with rising and unstable prices. It is made from recovered starch from potato rejections and shrink water from potato cuts, helping to close the loop within the potato value chain.
We also presented bio-based lubricants made from vegetable oils from low-input dry crops. These lubricants are being developed for agricultural machinery and are designed to offer good technical performance while supporting a more sustainable and circular production model.
Another sample on display was linked to animal feed. In this case, the product comes from cardoon oil cake, a byproduct remaining after vegetable oil extraction. Rich in protein, fibre and residual oils, this material has strong potential as an ingredient for feed formulations. Within BRILIAN, it has already been tested in the feeding of dairy buffaloes.
These samples show in a very practical way how BRILIAN is helping turn underused biomass and agricultural byproducts into valuable bio-based applications. They also reflect the project’s wider goal: to build new value chains that create opportunities for primary producers, industry and rural areas.
