BIOVALCOR

Introduction

The transition towards a climate-neutral and circular industry requires innovative ways to valorise biomass more efficiently. In the European oilseed sector, large volumes of rapeseed meal (RSM) are generated as a side stream of oil production. Today, this nutrient-rich material (containing valuable components such as proteins, hydroxycinnamic acids (HCAs), carbohydrates, lignin, and residual lipids) is mainly used as a low-value animal feed, while its full potential remains largely untapped. BIOVALCOR addresses this challenge by developing a new integrated biorefinery concept that upgrades RSM into multiple high-value, biobased products, contributing to more sustainable value chains in food, chemicals, and fuels for a circular, low-carbon bioeconomy.

Goal

The main goal of BIOVALCOR is to demonstrate an integrated, zero-waste biorefinery concept that maximises carbon utilization (>80%) from RSM. The project aims to enable the comprehensive valorisation of all major biomass components into valuable biobased products, while laying the foundation for industrially relevant and scalable technologies. By doing so, BIOVALCOR supports the transition towards fossil-free production routes and circular use of renewable feedstocks. The project will deliver a scalable, sustainable blueprint for oilseed side-stream valorisation, paving the way for industrial implementation.

Approach

BIOVALCOR will develop and combine innovative separation, conversion, and fermentation technologies for:

• The recovery of functional proteins via mild protein extraction to produce high-quality isolates for food applications;

• The recovery of HCAs (bioactive phenolic compounds) for cosmetics and pharma;

• The conversion of residual biomass fractions via catalytic depolymerisation of lignin into valuable bio-aromatic building blocks for polymers;

• The conversion of carbohydrate-rich residues into microbial oils for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and biodiesel.

These technologies will be integrated into a holistic biorefinery concept, validated at lab scale using real industrial feedstock, and supported by process modelling, techno-economic evaluation, and sustainability assessment to guide future scale-up.

Expected impact and valorization

BIOVALCOR is expected to deliver significant scientific, environmental, and economic impact. The project will provide new pathways for upgrading agricultural side streams into high-value products—proteins, HCAs, biophenolics, and microbial oils— for applications in food, cosmetics, chemicals, polymers, and sustainable fuels. The concept could unlock up to €462 million in product value and enable 1.2 Mt CO₂-equivalent abatement when applied at local scale. Follow-up projects will focus on scale-up to TRL 6–7 and broadening of the feedstock scope, accelerating the transition to fossil-free, biomass-based value chains and strengthening Flemish industrial leadership in circular biorefinery technologies.