Imagine a smart factory that works like a master chef, adjusting its recipe on the fly based on the quality of the vegetables coming in. Instead of throwing away peels and stems, it squeezes every bit of value out of plants to make healthy ingredients. It even grows some of its own plants under solar panels to save space and energy.
The botanical extract industry often suffers from high waste, inefficient resource use, and a reliance on non-European imports. Additionally, rural regions face economic decline as traditional crops like tobacco become less viable.
A digitalized, multi-product biorefinery (DYANA) capable of processing 20,000 tonnes/year with a zero-waste and zero-emissions strategy.
If you are a supplement manufacturer dealing with a lack of diverse European-sourced ingredients — this project developed a route to produce 46 plant-based extracts, including 13 entirely new to the market. This allows you to diversify your product line with sustainable, locally sourced ingredients.
If you are a skincare brand dealing with high waste in raw material sourcing — this project developed a zero-waste biorefinery model that upcycles agricultural side streams like olive and pomegranate. This ensures your ingredients meet strict circularity and zero-pollution standards.
If you are a farmer dealing with declining tobacco profits — this project developed a model to replace tobacco with medicinal plants like rosemary and chamomile. By using agrivoltaics, you can produce renewable energy and high-value crops on the same land.
The biorefinery is designed for an industrial scale with a processing capacity of 20,000 tonnes per year.
The project objective states it will generate a revenue of 271 M€.
Based on available project data, the project focuses on showcasing a replicable and versatile model for the EU bio-based industry, though specific licensing terms are not detailed.
The project period runs from June 1, 2023, to November 30, 2027.
It uses a smart dynamic analytical biorefinery (DYANA) that optimizes processing batch-wise according to the initial composition of the feedstock.
The consortium is heavily industry-driven, with 17 industrial partners (77% ratio) and 12 SMEs, indicating a strong focus on commercial viability over pure research. With 22 partners across 5 countries (AT, CH, DE, ES, IT), the project leverages a broad European supply chain, specifically integrating 7 partners from the Extremadura region to ensure local feedstock security and regional economic impact.
Contact NATAC BIOTECH SL in Spain for partnership opportunities regarding the DYANA biorefinery model.
Contact SciTransfer to identify similar bio-based industrial scale-up opportunities in the EU.
