The European Forum for Industrial Biotechnology & The Bioeconomy 2023 (EFIB) is Europe’s premier congress focussing on innovation and manufacturing’s economic and ecological contribution to Europe within industrial biotechnology and the bioeconomy; so it only makes sense that RTDS Group, Austria’s leading SME for the development, implementation and management of EU-funded research and innovation projects in the Bio-based Industries sector, would be there! Specifically, the RTDS-managed SUSFERT and BIOVEXO projects attended the event.
EFIB ‘23 was hosted in Rotterdam, Netherlands on 24th and 25th October and brought together professionals and experts from across the bio-based value chain, including researchers, policy makers, regulators, and global organisations. Together, they discussed advancements in industrial biotechnology and its contribution towards positioning Europe as a global leader in addressing societal and sustainability challenges.
Over 300 attendees were said to have attended the event and were privileged to contribute to a programme that was topical and pressing.
Day ONE saw, amongst others, sessions on ‘Food, Feed & Nutrition: Novel approaches for food system innovation’ and ‘Sustainable Biomaterials: Perspectives on circularity and renewability’.
Day TWO included dedicated sessions on ‘Sustainable Finance: Opportunities and challenges for bio-based innovation’ and ‘Biomanufacturing: Europe’s Industrial Transformation’.
RTDS already has over 20 years of experience in helping over 150 partners from 25 countries secure funding for over 40 EU projects. The Group is Austria’s leading SME for the development, implementation and management of EU-funded research and innovation projects in the Bio-based Industries sector.
As an indication of the successful work RTDS Group does in the Bio-based Industries sector, two of its tickets to EFIB 2023 were awarded as prizes in the #CBEimpact photo competition 2023! The two prize-winning projects, SUSFERT and BIOVEXO, were represented at EFIB 2023 by SUSFERT Project Communications Manager Philippa Webb-Muegge, BIOVEXO Project Manager Mikael Muegge. RTDS Group itself is represented by our CEO and Founder Dr Stephen Webb.
The SUSFERT Project has been developing more sustainable, multifunctional fertilisers for phosphorus and iron supply fitting into existing production processes and EU agricultural practice. These innovative fertilisers combine bio-based and biodegradable coatings for controlled release, probiotics to increase nutrient availability, and the renewable phosphorous source struvite.
SUSFERT has demonstrated its fertiliser’s efficacy for major crops and is helping its partners prepare for market entry. The project blog was included in Feedspot’s list of the 15 best bio-economy blogs and websites to follow for 2023. SUSFERT recently held the “NextGen Bio-based Fertilisers – Products and Impact” in Vicenza, Italy.
The BIOVEXO Project is working on developing innovative biopesticides to combat Xylella fastidiosa, a bacterial plant pathogen which is transmitted by pests, more specifically xylem fluid-feeding insects such as the spittlebug (Philaenus spumarius), and has caused devastation to olive and almond orchards in the Mediterranean region. The BIOVEXO Project aims to produce, test, and scale its innovative biopesticides, bringing them to a TRL 7-8 (close to market entry) for use in organic and non-organic production systems. The BIOVEXO Project recently joined the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) 4th European Conference on Xylella fastidiosa in Lyon, France.
You can learn more about these project and other projects RTDS is involved in here. You can follow both SUSFERT and the BIOVEXO Project, as well as RTDS, on LinkedIn and Twitter (X).
Author: Jonathan Clark, Communications Manager, RTDS
Date: 24th October 2023
All photos © RTDS