BLUEPIC (2022-2026)
FTJ2021-2027 programme
Funded by Grand Est et Massif des Vosges FEDER-FSE+.
The BLUEPIC project was created based on the observation that certain plant co-products naturally develop a blue coloration under specific storage conditions. However, a soluble blue color in vegetable oils simply does not exist on the natural ingredients market today
Only water-soluble blue pigments are available, and these are not very stable to light, temperature or pH variations.
The aim of the project is therefore to develop a sustainable process for producing a blue liposoluble extract from plant co-products available in the Grand Est region.
ERDF grant : 140 903.15€
Total budget : 234 838.59€
ReSolute (2020-2023)
Bio-Based Industries
The chemical sector today faces several challenges that are driving demand for higher performance and safer biomass-derived chemicals. Meanwhile the pulp and paper industry is actively exploring new growth opportunities to diversify its business, and this includes bio-based chemicals.
ReSolute will build factories at an industrial scale to convert waste cellulosic biomass into safe, environmentally friendly chemicals with applications across diverse industrial as a key part of the circular economy.
AgriWasteValue (2018-2022)
Interreg North-West Europe
Currently, the majority of natural actives used in cosmetic or nutraceutical formulations are imported to Europe, while a great diversity of resources is present in North-West Europe. A large amount of residues in covered areas, known for their arboriculture and viticulture sectors, are not fully exploited for the sourcing of natural actives and are not used.
The aim of the AgriWasteValue project is to transform agricultural residues from the European North-West regions into bioactive compounds in order to use them in key industrial sectors such as the cosmetic and nutraceutical fields and then in a second phase in the energy, chemical and agricultural fields.
BoostCrop (2019-2023)
Horizon 2020 (FET OPEN)
Cold and freezing stress are important constraints for crops and for horticulture. BoostCrop seeks to reduce such stress by an invention called 'molecular heaters'. These are nature-inspired molecules that absorb solar radiation and convert it to heat energy.
The invention would reduce yield losses due to cold stress, extend growth seasons and the geographical locations suitable for agriculture, increase crop yield at high crop density and, concomitantly, reduce greenhouse energy costs. BoostCrop strives to increase food production to feed a continuously growing population, thus tackling a major European and Global Challenge in Food Security.
ALPO (2016-2021)
Interreg France-Wallonie-Flandres
The project ALPO is an INTERREG project that results from the trans-borders cooperation between the French and Belgian regions Hauts-de-France, Grand-Est and Wallonia. Microalgal biomass has recently become increasingly significant as an alternative source of added-value molecules.
The objective of this project is to extract and purify the maximum of added-value products, with a highlight in lipids and carbohydrates, by coupling several strategies (chemical, physical and enzymatic) and technologies (microwave, membrane, centrifuge partition chromatography and supercritical fluid extraction).
EnzyTurf (2018)
EIT Climate KIC
EnzyTurf (Enzymatic Turf thatch hydrolysis) aims to ensure the maintenance of a beautiful lawn in a more environmentally friendly way than so-called traditional methods.
AgroParisTech has partnered via the URD ABI (Agro-biotechnologies industrielles) with the agro-industrial group Soufflet to develop an enzymatic solution for turf treatment. The goal of this collaboration is to replace the many current mechanical treatments with a single intervention.
METHAGRID (2019-2021)
ADEME Graine "Methagrid"
The METHAGRID project, certified by the IAR competitiveness cluster and winner of the 2018 ADEME GRAINE call for projects, aims to optimize biomethane production in the Grand Est region by combining methanization and biological methanation. The goal is to convert CO₂ from methanization into biomethane by adding hydrogen, thereby increasing the energy yield of biogas.
Launched in 2019 for two years, the project includes a laboratory research phase at ARD and a pilot phase at CEBB, both located at the Bazancourt-Pomacle biorefinery. METHAGRID is fully in line with the regional drive to promote renewable gas, making the Grand Est region one of the most active in France in terms of biomethane injection.
SINAP'UV (2017-2021)
ANR PRCE SINAP'UV
The SINAPUV project aimed to develop new bio-based UV filters that are safe and environmentally friendly, replacing current petrochemical filters. The goal is to produce, from sugars, analogues of sinapoyl malate, a natural compound highly effective against UV, to meet the growing demands of the cosmetic industry. The project was led by a public-private partnership bringing together leading academic and industrial actors: MICALIS laboratories (synthetic biology), Chaire ABI (now URD ABI) (fermentation, green chemistry, LCA), INSERM (toxicology/endocrine disruption), the start-up Abolis (microbial engineering), and Givaudan Active Beauty, a global leader in bio-based cosmetic ingredients.
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GLYCOSTIL (48 month)
ANR PRCE GLYCOSTIL
The GLYCOSTIL project, supported by ANR under the PRCE program, aimed to develop a sustainable process to produce bio-based glycosylated stilbenes for cosmetic applications. The objective is to replace conventional grape-derived extractions with an innovative production combining plant cell cultures and bioconversion, yielding more stable and valorized antioxidant compounds.
The project was led by a consortium of academic partners (RIBP, ICMR, and MEDyC JRU from URCA, URD ABI) and an industrial partner (NOVEAL, a L’Oréal subsidiary) to offer a new generation of safe, effective, and sustainable cosmetic ingredients.
COBY(2025-2029)
ANR PRC COBY
In the context of ecological transition, the COBY project aims to develop fully plant-based anti-corrosion solutions using biomolecules extracted from local and abundant agricultural co-products. These natural alternatives to conventional corrosion inhibitors address major environmental challenges. The objective is to develop adapted extraction processes to obtain effective protective films on steel and to evaluate these solutions against current references in terms of performance, techno-economics, and environmental impact. COBY brings together a multidisciplinary partnership of four complementary research teams: URD ABI: Research and Development Unit in Agro and Industrial Biotechnology, LRS: Laboratory of Surface Reactivity, LRGP: Laboratory of Reactions and Process Engineering, IJL: Jean Lamour Institute – University of Lorraine
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PIMYBONE (2021-2025)
ANR PRC PIMYBONE
The PIMyBone project (ANR PRC – “PIM structured multi-element doped calcium phosphate implants for large bone defect regeneration”) runs from December 2021 to October 2025. It aims to design innovative bone substitutes for repairing large bone defects: macroporous 3D scaffolds enriched with ions (strontium, copper, zinc) and manufactured via PIM (Powder Injection Moulding) using 3D printing, either fully ceramic or bi-material (ceramic + shape-memory polymer). The consortium includes: URD ABI, ICCF (Clermont Ferrand Chemistry Institute), BIOS (Biomaterials and Inflammation in Bone Sites), CRITT MDTS (with Jean Marc Popot). The goal is to develop, characterize (physico-chemical, mechanical), and preclinically validate these implants to stimulate bone formation, reduce infection and inflammation risks, and adapt to complex bone defect geometries.
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SMALA
ANR PRC SMALA
The SMALA (From small to macrolactams: an enzymatic approach) project aims to develop new synthetic pathways for lactams, key compounds in fine and pharmaceutical chemistry, from α-amino acids, particularly of bio-based origin. SMALA targets two types of enzymes to perform a cascade reaction: one enzymatic step for γ-lactams and two steps for macrolactams. These enzymes will be optimized via protein engineering to adapt the reaction to an industrially scalable process. The project is coordinated by the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) and involves IMoPA (Université de Lorraine – Molecular Engineering and Articular Physiopathology Institute), TBI (Toulouse Biotechnology Institute – Bio & Chemical, URD ABI (Research and Development Unit in Agro and Industrial Biotechnology)
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LAGOON (2022-2026)
ANR PRCE LAGOON
The LAGOON project aims to develop new bio-based sunscreen filters from lignocellulosic biomass, as an alternative to often toxic and unstable petrochemical filters. The goal is to design, using levoglucosenone derived from cellulose, simplified analogues of natural mycosporine amino-acid like, known for their photoprotective and antioxidant properties. The project takes a multidisciplinary approach combining biocatalysis, green chemistry, and formulation science to propose sustainable, safe, and effective UV filters for the growing cosmetic industry. It is led by URD ABI and involves an academic and industrial consortium including URCOM (University of Le Havre), the University of Warwick, and LVMH Research.
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BIOPOLIOL (42 month)
ANR PRC BIOPOLIOL
The BIOPOLIOL project aims to develop new bio-based insulating foams from lignin as an alternative to conventional polyurethanes derived from fossil resources and toxic isocyanates. The goal is to valorize lignin, a by-product of the paper industry, into functionalized macromonomers to produce safer, more sustainable, and high-performance polyhydroxyurethanes (PHUs) for the insulation industry. The project is a public-private partnership including IRCELYON (lignin depolymerization), ISA (advanced analytical methods), URD ABI (membrane separation processes), ICPEES (chemical functionalization), and Soprema, an industrial leader in insulation materials.
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BIOCOBALT
Ferments du Futur BIOCOBALT
The BIOCOBALT project aims to develop new bio-based pigments produced via microbial fermentation on solid substrates, as an alternative to petrochemical colorants. The goal is to valorize local agro-industrial co-products to obtain both pigments with antioxidant properties and fungal proteins with nutritional interest.
The project includes the development of spectrophotometric sensors for real-time monitoring of production and predictive models to facilitate process optimization and scale-up.
It is led by an academic partnership including URD ABI and the Chaire de Biotechnologie (CentraleSupélec), as part of the national Ferments du Futur program, supported by INRAE, ANIA, and France 2030.
PLAMINPACK (2024-2027)
ANR PLAMINPACK (PRIMA)
The PLAMINPACK project aims to develop new bio-based, antimicrobial, and circular packaging for preserving perishable fruits such as mandarins, dates, and strawberries. The goal is to valorize Mediterranean plant co-products to produce biopolymers and natural molecules integrated into films, nets, and trays via conventional industrial processes. The project combines active molecule extraction, insect-based bioconversion, plasma treatment, predictive modeling, and life cycle analysis to design sustainable and high-performance packaging. It is led by an international consortium coordinated by the University of Pisa, with participation from the University of Sfax, University of Basilicata, Next Technology, Cadi Ayyad University, University of Ioannina, AgroParisTech (URD ABI) and others.
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METHANIZ
ADEME Graine Methaniz
The METHANIZ project aims to optimize biogas production and digestate utilization in a dry anaerobic digestion process, particularly suited for “garage-type” installations. The objective is to improve energy efficiency and valorization of by-products from anaerobic digestion, contributing to more sustainable organic waste management. This project was supported by ADEME through the GRAINE call for projects, which funds research initiatives to develop a sustainable bioeconomy in France.
MILLISTYRENE (2022-2026)
ANR PRCE MILLISTYRENE
The millistyrene project aims to create a continuous and robust extractive fermentation process potentially associated with the transformation of the recovered biomolecule by chemical or enzymatic or even biological means. The project brings together three research and development teams with complementary expertise in fermentation and chemo-enzymatic conversions, analysis of molecule transfer in complex media, modeling and design of prototype tools. It is led by a consortium comprising the National Center for Scientific Research, AgroParisTech innovation, and LGPM Centrale Supélec.
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