€5m research call to drive sustainability in agri-food and other sectors
Ireland’s bioeconomy is set for a major boost as BiOrbic, a Research Ireland Centre for Bioeconomy, has announced a €5 million collaborative research call.
It is aimed at driving innovation and sustainability across the country’s biotechnology, agri-food, forestry, and marine sectors.
The new call, the largest of its kind for bio-based research in Ireland, is now open for joint applications from companies and researchers, with up to 50% co-funding available for projects.
The bioeconomy is the part of the economy focusing on living things, including plants, animals and microbes and works with the agriculture, forestry and marine sectors as well as biotechnology to produce food ingredients, cosmetics, and high value chemicals.
With the agri-sector under increasing pressure to meet climate targets, reduce waste, and adopt more circular models, many businesses are seeking new ways to stay competitive and sustainable.
Last year, BiOrbic helped a commercial dairy farm in Shinagh, Co. Cork, to achieve Ireland’s 2030 agricultural emissions reduction target of 25%, six years ahead of schedule. The project, Farm Zero Carbon, continues to deliver, with emissions reductions now exceeding 40%.
Speaking about the new innovation call, business development manager at BiOrbic, Sean Douglas said: “This €5 million research call is the largest of its kind for the bioeconomy in Ireland.
"It's a unique opportunity for companies of all sizes to co-develop solutions that meet both environmental goals and market demands.”
BiOrbic’s research teams have also delivered advances in biomanufacturing, including bio-based plastics and adhesives, grass biorefineries, and high-value nutritional and biomedical compounds.
Additional projects have focused on improving nitrogen efficiency, delivering carbon-neutral fuels, and increasing biogas yields in anaerobic digestion (AD) by up to 30% through innovative pre-processing technologies.
CEO at Adesco Ltd., Seán O’Hare said: “We partnered with Biorbic on a project focusing on novel storage methods for our animal feed.
"BiOrbic experts worked with us to use a biological process to lower the emissions of storing the feed, without the need for drying.
“The research project was able to quantify the improved performance in the animals on the new feed type, so it was a win-win solution.
“The partnership has opened doors to new markets for us at Adesco for our sustainable feed products with 50% less emissions and we are excited about its beneficial real-world impact," he added.
The call is open to companies and researchers to partner on projects that target a range of areas provided that they focus on biological resources, biological processes, or both.
Examples of project topic areas could include: digitalisation and AI for the bio-based economy; carbon-neutral marine; forestry and cropping systems; food waste prevention and upcycling, bioplastics and biodegradable materials; bioenergy solutions for a net-zero future; and wastewater treatment using bioremediation technologies.
Applications for the innovation call are open from September 10 until October 10, 2025 and further details on how to apply will be published on the BiOrbic website from September 10.
