Imagine a portable machine that turns farm waste, like olive pits and grape stems, into charcoal-like soil boosters and building boards right where the waste is created. Instead of trucking trash across the country, it processes everything on-site to keep the land healthy and lock away carbon. It's like having a mini-factory that turns agricultural leftovers into valuable products for the local neighborhood.
Agrifood industries produce massive amounts of waste like olive pomace and cork bark that are often underutilised or costly to transport. Current waste management lacks flexible, local processing options to turn these residues into profitable materials.
A modular, portable pyrolysis unit for biochar production and a stationary board production plant for cork-based materials.
If you are a plantation owner dealing with olive pomace or grape mark waste — this project developed a modular pyrolysis unit that transforms these residues into biochar for local soil application. This creates a short, resilient value chain that improves soil health on-site.
If you are a board producer dealing with cork waste — this project developed a stationary board production plant that capitalizes on regional cork outputs. This allows for the creation of bio-materials with a long-term carbon sink effect.
If you are a chemical company dealing with underutilised residues like grape stems — this project developed extractive methods to recover bio-active chemicals. This adds a high-value revenue stream through cascade valorisation before the waste is turned into biochar.
Based on available project data, the specific cost of the machinery is not listed, but the project allocates 750 k€ as financial support for technology replications and technical transfer.
The project is demonstrating the technology through five demonstration pilots across Portugal, Ireland, Spain, and the Czech Republic using modular units.
Based on available project data, specific licensing terms are not provided, but the project focuses on technical transfer using a multi-actor strategy.
The project aims to demonstrate these alternative business models over a period of 36 months, from June 2025 to May 2028.
The pyrolysis units are designed as single-maned portable units that fit pre- and post-conditioning phases into one module for easy on-site use.
The consortium is heavily industry-weighted with 7 industrial partners (47% of the group), including 5 SMEs. This strong commercial presence, combined with 5 universities and 2 research centers, suggests a high focus on market viability and practical application rather than pure theory.
Contact ENVIROHEMP SL in Spain for details on modular pyrolysis units.
Contact us to find a partner for the 750 k€ technical transfer program.
