€10 million in funding through the EU Just Transition has been announced for two new bioeconomy demonstration initiatives.

The funding was announced by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon, and Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O'Brien.

The funding comes as part of the second call under the EU Just Transition Fund Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative, which is co-funded by the government and the EU.

The aim of the funding is to deliver "investable bioeconomy solutions" in Ireland’s Just Transition Fund Territory in the Midlands, which supports communities and businesses to build new, low-carbon biobased value chains as the region moves away from peat, according to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Both new projects will base their demonstration activity, biomass procurement and industry collaboration in the midlands, generating local investment, supply-chain opportunities, and skills development.

Funding

Funding of €5 million is being awarded to the ‘BIOCHAR’ project led by University of Limerick while a further €5 million is being awarded to ‘TRANSFORM’, which is led by University College Dublin.

The aim of the ‘BIOCHAR’ project is to produce a sustainable biochar product for demonstration in agriculture, water treatment, and transport infrastructure.

The biochar will be produced from indigenous biomasses and tested through large-scale demonstration in the Just Transition Fund Territory, including in agriculture, water treatment and transport infrastructure.

The project will also develop a "high-level blueprint" for a mid-sized biochar facility to support future investment and replication in the midlands.

The aim of the ‘TRANSFORM’ project, meanwhile, is to demonstrate the upcycling of food waste and agri-food by-products.

Commercial-scale demonstration will be carried out by the Tullamore-based Circular Food Company, with investment in new equipment and staff supporting biomanufacturing in the region.

This project will also develop a replicable model for the wider agri-food sector to "unlock upcycling opportunities" to produce high-value ingredients for applications in the food and feed industries, the department said.

Bioeconomy

Marking the announcement of the funding, Minister Heydon said: “I am delighted to announce this €10 million in funding for two new bioeconomy demonstrator projects, as part of the EU Just Transition Fund.

"The BIOCHAR and TRANSFORM projects will demonstrate the potential uses of biochar in agriculture, bioenergy and sustainability, as well as transforming agri-food by-products and waste into functional ingredients," he added.

"This investment will build on the €22 million already committed to other bioeconomy pilot projects, demonstrating the government’s commitment to ensuring the bioeconomy is scaled-up across our economy and our rural areas," Minister Heydon said.

Minister Darragh O'Brien commented: "I am delighted to see investment in two further bioeconomy demonstration projects in the Midlands region as part of the EU Just Transition Programme.

"The ‘BIOCHAR’ and ‘TRANSFORM’ projects provide an excellent opportunity to showcase the practical application of the circular economy model while demonstrating how the efficient and sustainable use of waste and by-products can support climate and economic goals," Minister O'Brien added.