VALORANT Project
Valorisation of Agricultural Residues – Optimisation and Recovery Advanced Network Tool
About the Project
VALORANT is an ambitious Interreg North‑West Europe (NWE) initiative designed to unlock the hidden value within horticultural residues. Across NWE, major quantities of fruit, vegetable, and flower residues remain underused due to overproduction, harvest losses, or weather‑related disruptions. These residues contain high‑value bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, as well as substantial potential for protein and bioenergy production.
VALORANT brings together 10 partners across Belgium, Germany, France, Ireland, and the Netherlands to develop innovative, region‑specific pathways that transform horticultural waste into high‑value products — supporting a more circular, resource‑efficient economy.
Project Objectives
VALORANT aims to:
-
Develop a Joint Decision Framework (JDF)
A practical tool helping farmers, processors, and industry identify the best‑fit valorisation pathways based on:
- Residue type & chemical composition
- Regional availability & seasonality
- Market potential & processing capacity
- Environmental & economic performance
-
Pilot New Cascade Valorisation Pathways
Eight common horticultural residues will be tested across NWE: Apple, grape, strawberry, pear, carrot, lettuce, chrysanthemum, gerbera
Each follows a three‑stage cascade:
- Polyphenol extraction
- Protein recovery (microbial fermentation, algae, insects)
- Bioenergy generation (biochar, biofuel, biogas)
These pilots will supply real‑world evidence to refine the decision framework.
- Build Capacity for Circular Practices
VALORANT will:
- Train >300 stakeholders (farmers, processors, end‑users)
- Deliver transnational workshops, webinars & matchmaking
- Launch a digital JDF application integrated into the BioBoost platform
- Support long‑term uptake of sustainable valorisation practices
Why It Matters
North‑West Europe produces millions of tonnes of horticultural crops each year — and too much of this ends up as waste. These residue streams contain valuable bioactive compounds with high market potential in:
- Nutraceuticals
- Food & beverage
- Cosmetics
- Bioenergy and biofuels
But because residue volumes, infrastructures, and market conditions vary widely by region, no universal solution exists. VALORANT’s place‑based cascade approach adapts to these local differences, showcasing how transnational collaboration can accelerate innovation and reduce resource waste.
IrBEA’s Role
As Ireland’s national bioenergy association, IrBEA is a key contributor to VALORANT’s bioenergy and sustainability ambition.
IrBEA’s main responsibilities include:
- Bioenergy expertise: Supporting pathways for biochar, biogas, and biofuel production from horticultural residues.
- Irish pilot leadership: Coordinating the place‑based lettuce pilot in the Eastern & Midlands region.
- Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) & Costing (LCC): Providing analysis to measure environmental and economic viability.
- Training & capacity building: Co‑developing workshops and webinars for farmers, processors, and SMEs.
- Communication & outreach: Sharing results with national stakeholders, industry members, and policymakers.
Through these roles, IrBEA will ensure that Irish horticultural and bioenergy stakeholders benefit directly from project innovations and tools.
What Makes VALORANT Unique
VALORANT is the first NWE initiative to try to integrate all of the following into a single cascade model:
- Polyphenol extraction
- Insect, algae & microbial protein production
- Biochar, biogas, and biofuel conversion
- A digital decision support tool
- Region‑specific, multi‑country validation pilots
This comprehensive approach represents a major step forward from earlier single‑output projects.
Expected Impact
By the end of the project, VALORANT will:
- Enable at least 43 businesses and operators to valorise horticultural residues.
- Demonstrate cost‑effective, sustainable cascade chains for 8 residue types.
- Deliver a fully functioning digital JDF platform, accessible across NWE.
- Reduce waste & increase resource efficiency in key horticultural regions.
- Strengthen transnational cooperation for circular economy adoption.
Project Basics
- Programme: Interreg North‑West Europe
- Priority: Transition towards a place‑based circular economy
- Duration: 43 months
- Total Budget: €4,389,735.80
- Countries Involved: Belgium, Germany, France, Ireland, Netherlands
Project Partners
A diverse consortium of research institutes, industry experts, innovation clusters, and bioenergy specialists, including:
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