Rustica

Demonstration of circular biofertilisers and implementation of optimized fertiliser strategies and value chains in rural communities

Project

The RUSTICA project was funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 program. The project aimed to develop and demonstrate circular bio-based fertilizer products derived from agricultural side streams. Running from 2021 to 2024, the focus of the project consisted of closing nutrient loops and reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers by converting organic residues into high-value fertilizer components.

Project Goals and Innovations

RUSTICA’s core ambition was to create optimized fertilizer strategies and value chains for rural communities. The project explored multiple technologies to valorize agricultural waste, including:

•           Microbial Protein (MP) production from nutrient-rich solutions.

•           Insect Biomass and Frass via Black Soldier Fly larvae.

•           Biochar from lignocellulosic residues.

•           The Carboxylic Acid Platform (CAP) for producing an NPK-rich solution containing short-chain carboxylic acids (SCCAs) like acetic, butyric, and caproic acid as useful carbon source.

These components were tested in blends to assess agronomic performance, environmental impact, and economic feasibility across different European regions.

DRANCO’s Role

As technical project manager, DRANCO coordinated the technological development and integration across the consortium, ensuring alignment between research, demonstration, and impact goals.

 DRANCO also led the development and validation of the Carboxylic Acid Platform (CAP) within RUSTICA. This anaerobic fermentation process converts organic waste into a SCCAs and NPK rich solution, which serve as precursors for microbial protein and NPK concentrates.

Key contributions from DRANCO included:

•           Pretreatment and fermentation trials using agricultural side streams, producing up to 30 metric tons of CAP-solution.

•           Integration with microbial protein production, where CAP solution was successfully converted into MP by project partner AVECOM.

•           Leadership in WP6 (Integration and Demonstration), coordinating pilot-scale testing and ensuring replicability of results across regions.

•           DRANCO contributed to strategic discussions on downstream processing, business model development, and replication potential of the CAP technology, working closely with all consortium partners.

Impact and Future Outlook

The RUSTICA project demonstrated that organic residues can be transformed into effective, sustainable enriched fertilizers, reducing environmental impact and enhancing soil health. DRANCO’s CAP technology proved to be a scalable and flexible solution, with potential applications in both agriculture and the bio-based economy.

Building on RUSTICA’s success, DRANCO continues to advance CAP toward TRL-7 and explore new partnerships for commercial deployment. The project exemplifies DRANCO’s commitment to innovation in waste valorization and its role in shaping the future of circular agriculture.

More about RUSTICA: click HERE