Final Event of FIRST2RUN, the first flagship project funded by the "Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking"

On June 20, 2019 in Brussels, a conference was held to present the results of First2Run, the first flagship project funded by the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking- BBI JU,the public-private partnership between the European Commission and the European consortium of bio-based industries (BIC, Bio-based Industries Consortium). The project, lasting four years, was born from the collaboration of Novamont and five partners from Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.  
 
The aim of the project was to demonstrate the technical, economic and environmental sustainability of a highly innovative integrated biorefinery, where low input oil crops such as cardoon, cultivated in arid and / or marginal areas, are used for the extraction of vegetable oils to be converted through chemical processes into biomonomers and esters for the formulation of bioproducts such as biolubricants, cosmetics, plasticizers and bioplastics, with important growth opportunities for local businesses and local farmers cooperatives.
 
John Bell, Director of Healthy Planet, DG Research and Innovation at the European Commission, opened the event by identifying in First2Run the example of what Europe could do to guide the transition towards a sustainable and competitive bioeconomy model.
 
Catia Bastioli, CEO of Novamont, during her speech explained how First2Run is a demonstrator and a practical example of a new business model that takes into account the sustainable management of natural resources necessary for life, combining unique technologies with soil conservation.
 
Luigi Capuzzi, Research and Development Director of Novamont and First2Run Project Manager, illustrated the activities carried out, the results obtained within the project and its future developments.
 
The event was attended by Philippe Mengal, BBI JU Executive Director, Paolo Di Stefano, head of Coldiretti's Brussels office, Claire Couet, director of public relations and communication Cepi, Kevin O'Connor, professor at University College Dublin, Fabio Fava, representative of the Italian ministries and President of the States Representatives Group (SRG) within BBI JU and Dirk Carrez, Executive Director of the Bio-Based Industries Consortium - BIC.
 
The First2Run model has been defined as a successful case for the involvement of primary sector, both for the cultivation of oil crops aimed at revitalizing the territories and offering opportunities to diversify activities of traditional farmers, and for the validation and the application of low impact bio-products on field.