Realising the Economic Potential of Sustainable Resources – Bioproducts from Non-food Crops

EPOBIO is an international project funded through the European Union’s Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) to realise the economic potential of plant-derived raw materials. The EPOBIO objective is to design new generations of bio-based products derived from plant raw materials that will reach the market place 10-15 years from now.

The aim of EPOBIO

Since fossil reserves are finite there are increasing concerns about availability, security of supply and the cost of oil and petrochemicals. In addition, there are challenges linked to the increasing quantities of fossil oil needed for continued industrial growth and expanding consumer demand. Bio-renewables offer society a sustainable means of providing the alternative energy and products demanded.

EPOBIO seeks to realise the economic potential of plant-derived raw materials by designing new generations of bio-based products derived from plant raw materials . In order to achieve this, EPOBIO’s international initiative brings together the science, technologies and the supply chains needed to develop high utility products.

Origins of the EPOBIO initiative

EPOBIO encompasses and builds on the foresight and the foundation established during 2004/2005 by the US/EC Taskforce in Biotechnology Research - 'Plant-based bioproducts: creating value from renewable resources'. Those discussions established criteria to select Flagship Themes that represent important areas for new international R&D activities aimed at delivering the new generation of bio-based products. Through the prioritisation of the scientific areas and technologies relevant to the design of future areas of collaboration, the US/EC Taskforce endorsed the relevance and development of the first three Flagship themes – plant cell walls, plant oils and biopolymers.

Flagships and Support Themes

Each of these Flagship themes is being developed in the context of its environmental impact, economics and regulatory frameworks, attitudes and expectations of policy makers and the public, and a communication strategy. This holistic approach means we will be working closely with environmental scientists, agronomists, experts in legislation and regulations, socio-economists, policy-makers and the public to evaluate proposed products and ensure the products developed are beneficial to our society and for our planet. Uniquely, EPOBIO puts scientific potential into this wider social context.

The knowledge gained from EPOBIO will underpin the development of biorenewables in the emerging knowledge-based bio-economy of this new century. The programme will design a way forward for the EU to realise the economic potential of bioproducts from non-food crops. EPOBIO will also support action on biorenewables in the US and elsewhere globally, particularly in the developing world. EPOBIO will link scientific potential with product development and the policy framework needed to facilitate uptake.

EPOBIO incorporates the BioMatNet database of information which makes available the results of RTD projects supported by the European Commission in the area of biological materials from non-food crops.

Relationship to the EU Technology Platforms

EPOBIO shows the need to drive innovation at the interface of green and white biotechnology. Its outputs are highly relevant to the development of a number of EU Technology Platforms:

The content of EPOBIO spans these diverse Technology Platforms and addresses components in each through its global scientific expertise in the development of plant-based bioproducts. Thus its remit and activities are distinct from, but complementary to, the Technology Platforms. Close collaboration with the Technology Platforms is being developed.

Through its activities EPOBIO will play a central role in supporting EC policy development in biorenewables in the coming years.

Our future work programme

The potential future projects and products identified by the May 2006 Wageningen Workshop will provide a focus for the work of EPOBIO for the coming year. Each project/product will be developed in depth by Flagship desk researchers who will identify the range of scientific expertise required to take them forward. In parallel they will also be assessed for their probability to produce successful products for the global market place. In this assessment their environmental impact and benefit will be considered, their economics and regulatory issues, as well as the attitudes and expectations of policy makers and the public. A communication strategy for the chosen projects and products will also be developed.