Funding: ERDF Cohesion Italy 21-27 Alto Adige Südtirol, Co-funded by the European Union

Project duration: 01.2026 – 12.2028

Budget: 2,909,839.24€ – of which EU-funding: 1,163,935.69€

Official Website: ZeroResidue – Zero Lost. Zero Residue. Everything Transformed.

Project Aim

The aim of the EU project “ZeroResidue” is to establish a research infrastructure that enables the most complete possible valorization of agro-industrial waste. In particular, the project focuses on by-products from apple and grape processing, which are transformed into bioactive extracts, functional ingredients, biostimulants and biofuels using sustainable processes.

These processes are developed on a pilot scale and can be characterized and applied in various fields, including food production, oenology, cosmetics and biomedicine. At the same time, the remaining biomass will be used for energy production in order to close the loop as completely as possible.

The “ZeroResidue” infrastructure will subsequently be made available to interested companies in the form of services for process development and product characterization. In this way, “ZeroResidue” helps reduce waste, lower environmental impact and promote new regional value chains.

Approach

As part of the project, a research and experimentation platform will be established at NOI Techpark: a pilot plant for developing and testing innovative processes for the valorization of by-products. Using sustainable technologies, bioactive compounds will be extracted from plant materials, characterized and studied for different applications. The project is being carried out in collaboration between the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano and Laimburg Research Centre.

Expected Outcomes

“ZeroResidue” aims to demonstrate that agro-industrial by-products can be used as a valuable resource. The project will lead to the development of new sustainable processes for producing innovative, high-value products such as functional ingredients, extracts and biostimulants.

In addition, the infrastructure is designed to serve as an innovation hub that facilitates companies’ access to advanced technologies, strengthening their productivity and competitiveness, and enabling them to attract new investment. Local companies will thus be able to improve their position on national and international markets, support regional employment, and actively contribute to the development of a sustainable circular economy.