Tailored biobased controlled release fertilizer system for complete soil degradability – BIOFERT

Important results from the project

The project resulted in a competitive application to EH-JU-CBE-2025-RIA-02 call, within Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), focused on “Bio-based and biodegradable delivery systems for fertilizing products to reduce microplastics pollution & promote soil health”. A strong consortium was formed, consisting of 11 European partners. RISE coordinated the work, with significant participation from Swedish organizations Stiftelsen Chalmers Industriteknik (CIT) and Hushållningssällskapet Skåne (HSS). The project achieved its goals of identifying key partners, defining a robust project structure, and preparing the application. It resulted in multidisciplinary collaboration with strong Swedish participation and a leading role in the final EU application.

Expected long term effects

The project have great potential to impact the agricultural sector in the long term. A strong consortium covering the entire value chain establishes a foundation for scientific and technical excellence, strengthening Sweden´s position within the EU. In the long term, this can lead to improved soil health, reduced microplastic pollution, and increased use of bio-based materials in agriculture, benefiting both the environment and the economy toward a more sustainable agriculture.

Approach and implementation

The project began with analyzing the value chain and identifying relevant stakeholders. We contacted several stakeholders and held individual meetings with many of them. We secured in-kind contributions from industrial partners as proof of the project´s relevance to market needs. Joint workshops were held where we reviewed the concept. Everyone had clear roles and contributed to the draft, but RISE had the main responsibility for finalizing the application and submitting it to the portal.