Transforming Meat and Fruit Waste into Biogas

In its latest findings, the BBTWINS project has made key developments in waste processing and valorisation technologies, converting waste from the meat and fruit industries into resources that support a more sustainable, circular economy. One aspect of the research focused on ways to recycle by-products such as pig manure, skins, and bones from meat production, as well as pruning and fruit processing waste. The project evaluated practical options for transforming these materials into different products.

The project, which takes pig manure and other organic waste and converts it into renewable energy, showed remarkable results, with biogas outputs reaching over 19 million cubic meters annually under optimal scenarios. This method has the potential to produce enough biogas to power thousands of homes each year, showing strong promise as a cleaner energy source for the meat and fruit industries. BBTWINS also explored the potential for recovering valuable nutrients from manure for use as natural fertilizers, although further development is needed to improve its efficiency.

“We have made significant progress in producing high-purity keratin and collagen, essential compounds used in cosmetics and other industries. Through advanced techniques, the project successfully extracted keratin from pig hair with a purity rate of over 94%, making it suitable for various commercial applications.” – André Ribeiro, Senior Researcher at CVR – Centre for Waste Valorisation.

In fruit processing, the project found that pruning waste can be effectively used to produce energy, providing an eco-friendly solution for agricultural by-products. Additionally, they explored methods for extracting beneficial compounds from peach processing waste. By using a specialized extraction technique, the project achieved strong results in capturing these bioactive compounds, which have applications in health and wellness products.

The findings of the BBTWINS project demonstrate the potential of turning waste into renewable energy, natural fertilizers, and high-value compounds, promoting sustainable practices in the meat and fruit industries.

With further development, these technologies could help reduce environmental impact and create valuable resources from waste, benefiting sectors from agriculture to personal care.

About BBTWINS

Bio-Based Digital Twins (BBTWINS) aims to develop a digital platform for the optimisation of agri-food value chain processes and the supply of quality biomass for bioprocessing. The platform will be based on ‘digital twins’ technology – creating a real-time digital replica of physical processes in the agri-food industry. BBTWINS will also combine Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, the Internet of Things (IoT) and software analytics in this single platform.

With 13 partners in 7 countries, the BBTWINS consortium will be focusing on meat and fruit production, integrating the value chain (from crop to final product) and will define the optimal pathway for each feedstock to maximise efficiency and minimise losses – without impacting quality.

This project has received funding from the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement No 101023334.