AgroCycle waste project in focus
UCD School of Biosystems and Food Engineering is leading the effort to develop a protocol to implement the ‘circular economy’ across the agri-food sector.
UCD won this role against fierce competition; some 180 projects were submitted, but only two were funded.
The project will lead to waste being used as a feedstock for downstream industries, including pharmaceuticals and biochemicals.
AgroCycle will feature along with 16 other flagship research projects exhibiting in the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2016 National Horizon 2020 Societal Challenge 5 open day on October 7, in the Croke Park Conference Centre, Dublin.
Laura Burke, director general EPA, said: “Over the past 20 years, we have a pool of environmental and other researchers in Ireland that are successfully competing with the best in Europe to come up with innovative ways of addressing key societal challenges.”
Also at the EPA’s open day will be a €6m TCD-led project using smart technology to improve air quality in EU cities, and a €3.5m solar disinfection project led by Royal College of Surgeons to provide safe water for remote, vulnerable people in Africa and elsewhere.
