OLinWASTE - SMART SUSTAINABLE BIOREFINING OF OLIVE MILL WASTE INTO BIOCOMPOUNDS FOR PLANT AND SOIL HEALTH, BIOPLASTICS, AND BIOENERGY

ID Call: HORIZON-CL6-2024-ZEROPOLLUTION-02 Innovative technologies for zero pollution, zero-waste biorefineries

Sapienza's role in the project: Coordinator

Scientific Supervisor for Sapienza: Vincenzo Lionetti

Department: Biology and Biotechnology 

Project start date: June 1, 2025

Project end date: May 31, 2029

Abstract:

The OLinWASTE project aims to revolutionize the biorefinery sector by establishing an integrated, zero-emission system for olive mill waste. Leveraging advanced extraction techniques and anaerobic digestion technologies, the project will convert olive mill waste into high-value products such as bioimmunostimulants, biopesticides, biofertilizers, bioplastics, and bioenergy. This innovative approach will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and soil pollution, optimize resource flows, and enhance environmental sustainability. By creating a digital twin of the system, OLinWASTE will enable efficient management of materials, energy, and waste. The project also focuses on reducing noise and odour, recovering thermal energy, and protecting soil, water, and air quality. In addition to generating new revenue streams for the olive oil industry, this approach sets new standards in waste management and energy efficiency. The project’s mission is to support the olive sector and biogasification operators in improving their environmental performance, circularity, and overall sustainability. With a consortium of leading universities, research institutes, and industry partners, OLinWASTE is poised to establish new benchmarks in sustainable waste management and renewable energy production. By promoting circularity and reducing the carbon footprint in the olive oil and biogas sectors, the project fosters innovation and collaboration to create scalable, sustainable solutions that can be widely adopted—ultimately contributing to a more environmentally friendly future.

Sapienza University of Rome will serve as the project coordinator. Prof. Vincenzo Lionetti, affiliated with the Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Charles Darwin”, will act as the Principal Investigator (PI) of the OLinWASTE project, overseeing the scientific activities and ensuring research excellence. He is a biologist with a solid background in plant physiology and biochemistry, cell wall biology, plant immunity, glycomics, enzymology, and biomass valorization. Prof. Lionetti has extensive experience as a professor, researcher, inventor, and editor of scientific journals. Sapienza will organize and regularly chair coordination meetings among all project partners and will be responsible for Work Package 2 (WP2), focused on the use of isolated biomolecules as organic inputs for more sustainable agriculture. The scientific group led by Prof. Lionetti will handle the extraction and isolation of novel biostimulant molecules from byproducts derived from olive mills and associated biodigesters. These molecules will be structurally characterized and functionally tested. The team will evaluate their effectiveness both as fertilizers and as activators of plant defense responses, aiming to improve plant resilience and physiological well-being. The biomolecules will act as “plant vaccines,” capable of stimulating plants’ innate immunity and reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers and chemical pesticides.