MYCOCIRCLE

Upcycling mushroom waste to replace animal derived chemicals

Project details

Type of project: Research & Innovation Action
Project focus: Bio-based chemicals
Feedstock origin: Agri-food waste
Feedstock type: Crop residues
Food industry sidestreams

Project period: 1 September 2025 - 31 August 2028
Status: In progress
CBE JU Contribution: € 3 486 567,50
Call identifier: HORIZON-JU-CBE-2024

Summary

Animal-derived materials, such as chitin, collagen and squalene are widely used in cosmetics and agrochemicals. This reliance raises ethical concerns, impacts the environment, and highlights resource limitations, including the killing of three to six million sharks annually for squalene extraction.

MYCOCIRCLE aims to tackle these challenges by upcycling mushroom biomass and developing sustainable biotechnological pathways for high-value materials in the cosmetics and agrochemical industries as alternatives to animal-derived products. The project brings together industry leaders and researchers to demonstrate the potential of mushroom biomass as a viable source for bio-based materials.

By advancing green biotechnology, MYCOCIRCLE seeks to reduce environmental impact and promote ethical practices, providing a more sustainable alternative for industries reliant on animal-based ingredients.

Demonstrate that residual mushroom biomass can serve as a sustainable alternative to develop innovative processes that replace animal-based compounds.
Contribute to the production of sustainable bio-based products with high-value compounds such as triglycerides, terpenoids and protein hydrolysates.
Significantly reduce energy consumption compared to non-integrated, lab-based demonstrations.
Provide a sustainable solution for agricultural disease control by replacing animal-based products with plant-based polymers and chitin and its chemical congeners.
Develop and demonstrate the use of cosmetically relevant terpenoids, triglyceride oils, and protein hydrolysates as sustainable, animal-free equivalents to existing cosmetic ingredients.
Evaluate the socio-economic impacts of the products and validate the techno-economic feasibility of an integrated process for large-scale production.
Share results, engage stakeholders, and encourage the broader community to implement sustainable bio-based solutions.
Develop a business and financing plan for scaling up, entering the market, and replicating the results.

Improve EU bioeconomy research and innovation capacity, including the publishing of journal articles and presenting at international conferences, unlocking potential in underdeveloped regions and fostering sustainable bio-based innovations.
Scale up fungal biomass transformation compared to current methods, thereby generating economic opportunities within the biomass supply chain.
Increase the value of lignocellulose-contaminated mushroom biomass compared to its current use in fertilisers and biogas, thereby contributing to a more sustainable waste management.
Boost the market value of traditional microbial oils by enhancing co-product generation through genetic engineering of oleaginous yeasts.
Reduce land-use footprint compared to traditional animal - and plant-derived oils and protein production, supporting more sustainable agriculture.
Foster rural development by creating jobs and economic opportunities in mushroom-producing regions.
Promote the circular economy by converting mushroom biomass into high-value products, achieving a fully circular biorefinery aligned with EU sustainability goals.
Improve EU environmental safety by ensuring that processes comply with EU sustainability and safety criteria.
Expand the bio-based product market share, driving the transition towards sustainable food, agriculture, and industrial systems.
Engage special interest groups, hosting training events and workshops to raise awareness of MYCOCIRCLE’s potential in achieving net-zero goals.

Consortium map

Project coordination

TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET MUENCHEN Muenchen, Germany

Consortium

SINTEF AS Trondheim, Norway
IDENER RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT AGRUPACION DE INTERES ECONOMICO La Rinconada, Spain
NORGES MILJO-OG BIOVITENSKAPLIGE UNIVERSITET As, Norway
SVERIGES LANTBRUKSUNIVERSITET Uppsala, Sweden
GREEN IMPULSE ANGERS, France
GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE TRANSFORMATION GST GmbH Dachau, Germany
GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE TRANSFORMATION GST GmbH Dachau, Germany