Summary
- Profile Type
- Research & Development Request
- POD Reference
- RDRIE20250709037
- Term of Validity
- 9 July 2025 - 9 July 2026
- Company's Country
- Ireland
- Type of partnership
- Research and development cooperation agreement
- Targeted Countries
- All countries
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General information
- Short Summary
- A mission-driven biotechnology company focused on developing forest-biomass-derived platforms for high-value bio-based materials. The company core business activity is the transformation of underutilised forestry feedstocks, particularly lignin, cellulose, and tannins, into functional and commercially viable bio-based products. Seeking international partners under EIC Pathfinder Challenge Call topic "Biotech for Climate Resilient Crops and Plant-Based Biomanufacturing"
- Full Description
-
The proposed technology is a bio-based and biodegradable coating for fertilising products, designed to enhance nutrient efficiency, reduce environmental losses, and align with EU sustainability goals. The coating is engineered using underutilised lignocellulosic biomass, specifi cally targeting lignin and cellulose as primary raw materials.
1. Lignocellulose extraction and characterization
● Lignin, a complex aromatic polymer found in plant cell walls, is often treated as a low-value by-product in the pulp and paper or bioethanol industries. We valorise this abundant material for its hydrophobic and UV-resistant properties, making it an ideal candidate for controlled-release systems.
● Cellulose, a polysaccharide with excellent fi lm-forming capabilities, is sourced from agricultural or forestry residues. It provides structural integrity and biodegradability to the coating matrix.
2. Coating Formulation and Functionalisation
Through green chemistry processes, lignin and cellulose are processed and functionalised to create a biopolymer matrix. This involves:
● Chemical and/or enzymatic modifi cation of lignin to improve compatibility with cellulose and tailor degradation rates.
● Blending and cross-linking strategies to fi ne-tune mechanical properties, permeability, and solubility profiles.
● Incorporation of additives or plasticisers, where needed, to optimise coating performance without compromising biodegradability.
3. Controlled Nutrient Release Mechanism
The coating encapsulates conventional or bio-based fertilisers, creating a barrier that regulates nutrient release based on moisture, temperature, and microbial activity in the soil. This helps:
● Minimise leaching and volatilisation losses (especially nitrogen)
● Reduce the frequency and quantity of fertilizer applications
● Improve synchronisation between nutrient availability and plant uptake
4. Biodegradation and Environmental Safety
The formulation is designed to fully biodegrade in natural environments (soil, freshwater, and marine systems), breaking down into non-toxic by-products such as water, carbon dioxide, and biomass. This addresses growing regulatory concerns around microplastics in coated fertilisers and supports compliance with the EU Fertilising Products Regulation (FPR) and its forthcoming delegated act on polymer biodegradability.
5. Circular and Regional Value Chain Integration
By sourcing lignin and cellulose from locally available, underutilised biomass, the solution supports a circular bioeconomy, reduces dependence on fossil-based polymers, and enhances regional value chains within rural and forested areas. - Advantages and Innovations
-
Lignin, a naturally abundant, renewable, and underutilized biopolymer, presents a promising alternative to fossil based coatings. As the world’s largest single source of aromatic carbon, with over 50 million tonnes produced annually, lignin holds potential for multiple high-value applications, including use as a biodegradable coating for controlled-release fertilizers. Yet, technical challenges limit its widespread adoption. Less than 5% of lignin is currently valorized, with the remainder typically incinerated for low-value energy.
Our project aims to develop a bio-based, biodegradable coating for fertilising products using underutilised lignin and cellulose as sustainable raw materials. By addressing the urgent need to replace fossil-derived polymer coatings and eliminate microplastic pollution, the solution supports both environmental and regulatory goals. - Technical Specification or Expertise Sought
-
1 Material Science – Bio-based Coating Formulation and Performance Optimization
Required Expertise: A partner with advanced material science and polymer engineering capabilities, ideally within a research centre or innovation-driven SME, to co-develop, test, and optimise the coating formulations.
Technical Specifications:
● Expertise in formulation chemistry using biopolymers (e.g., lignin, cellulose, starch, PHA, PLA).
● Ability to tailor coating thickness, porosity, and degradation rate based on environmental triggers (moisture, pH, microbial activity).
● Proficiency in analytical techniques such as SEM, FTIR, TGA, DSC, and rheometry to characterise physical and chemical properties.
● Capacity to develop scalable lab-to-pilot synthesis protocols, including solvent-free or green-chemistry methods.
Ideal Partner Examples: Advanced materials research centres, university chemistry departments, or R&D-focused bio-based coating manufacturers.
*We have existing partners that could potentially work with (UBE, Amber, University of Valencia, LIST)
2. Lignocellulose Extraction and Characterization – Biomass Valorisation
Required Expertise: A partner with capabilities in biomass processing, fractionation, and characterisation to ensure reliable and consistent extraction of high-quality lignin and cellulose from agricultural or forestry residues.
Technical Specifications:
● Proficiency in lignocellulosic feedstock pretreatment (e.g., steam explosion, alkaline/acid hydrolysis, organosolv processes).
● Ability to isolate and purify technical lignin (Kraft, organosolv, or soda lignin) and cellulose fractions suitable for coating applications.
● In-house analytical facilities for characterising molecular weight, purity, and functional groups (e.g., via GPC, NMR, UV-Vis, HPLC).
● Understanding of structure–property relationships for tuning biodegradability and compatibility with nutrient substrates.
Ideal Partner Examples: Biorefinery technology developers, forestry research institutes, chemical engineering departments with expertise in biomass valorisation.
*We have an existing partnership with KU Leuven.
3. Agronomy and Field Testing – Performance Validation in Real-World Conditions.
Required Expertise: An experienced agricultural research partner or applied agronomist to design and conduct controlled fi eld trials and greenhouse testing to evaluate the efficacy and environmental impact of the coated fertilizer in diverse soil and crop systems.
Technical Specifications:
● Experience with fi eld and plot-scale testing of fertilising products, including coated or enhanced-efficiency fertilizers.
● Ability to measure key performance indicators: nutrient release rates, crop yield response, soil health, water retention, and leaching profiles.
● Access to facilities like growth chambers, lysimeters, and fi eld trial infrastructure
.
● Capacity to conduct biodegradability assessments in real soil environments over time and contribute data to support regulatory compliance (e.g., EU FPR).
Ideal Partner Examples: Agricultural universities, applied research organisations, living labs, or private agronomy service providers.
We have an existing partnership with Dr William Burchill who's part of UCC, BiOrbic/ Farm Zero C. There is also potential to work with KU Leuven's test farm ‘TRANSfarm’ for any field work.
TRL 3 – Experimental Proof of Concept:
The project has successfully reached Technology Readiness Level 3, where the critical functions and performance characteristics of the bio-based and biodegradable fertilizer coating have been demonstrated under controlled laboratory conditions.
Laboratory-scale tests were conducted in collaboration with the AMBER Research Centre to validate the material’s formulation, coating properties, and functional behaviour.
In parallel, additional testing was carried out in the UCD Growth Chambers, where the coated fertilizers were assessed for their effect on plant development, nutrient release profiles, and early-stage soil interactions under simulated environmental conditions.
These combined activities have provided experimental proof of concept and laid a robust scientific foundation for further validation in relevant environments (TRL 4).
Stage of Development:
The initial lab-scale testing provided valuable insights into the behaviour of different bio-based coating formulations applied to urea fertilizers. The study assessed dissolution rates and urea release profiles over time, comparing several treatments against untreated urea.
While the coatings demonstrate varying degrees of biodegradability and release modulation, none outperformed the untreated urea in terms of consistent, gradual nutrient release — a key objective for
the controlled-release fertilizer. These findings underscore the need to:
● Refine coating formulations to achieve a more predictable, gradual nutrient release profile.
● Improve uniformity and application methods to minimise variability across samples.
● Explore alternative ratios or additional bio-based components (e.g., modified lignin, plasticisers, or cross-linkers) to enhance coating integrity and control degradation rates.
● Conduct further testing with larger sample sizes and standardised application methods to reduce variability and confirm trends. - Stage of Development
- Under development
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
- IPR status
- No IPR applied
Partner Sought
- Expected Role of a Partner
-
A partner with advanced material science and polymer engineering capabilities, ideally within a research centre or innovation-driven SME, to co-develop, test, and optimise the coating formulations.
A partner with capabilities in biomass processing, fractionation, and characterisation to ensure reliable and consistent extraction of high-quality lignin and cellulose from agricultural or forestry residues.
An experienced agricultural research partner or applied agronomist to design and conduct controlled fi eld trials and greenhouse testing to evaluate the efficacy and environmental impact of the coated fertilizer in diverse soil and crop systems. - Type and Size of Partner
- R&D Institution
- SME 11-49
- University
- Big company
- Type of partnership
- Research and development cooperation agreement
Call details
- Framework program
- Horizon Europe
- Call title and identifier
-
EIC Pathfinder Challenge topic
"Biotech for Climate Resilient Crops and Plant-Based Biomanufacturing" - Coordinator required
-
Yes
- Deadline for EoI
- Deadline of the call
- Horizon Europe
"Biotech for Climate Resilient Crops and Plant-Based Biomanufacturing"
Dissemination
- Technology keywords
- 07001004 - Crop Production
- 02004 - Plant Design and Maintenance
- Market keywords
- 05009001 - Food & feed ingredients
- Targeted countries
- All countries