Objectives & Targets

Main targets of this objective are to:

• Collect, harmonize and store all the available information necessary to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the project’s research activities and to create a database storing all the data collected from literature, other projects, and the national and international sources of both counties
• Collect and analyze all the data and results gathered from the pilot cultivations of the selected fiber crops in the contaminated demo fields of both countries. Different levels of irrigation and nitrogen fertilization will be tested, as well as the application of mycorrhiza.
• Broaden the range of suitable non-food feedstock candidates for phytoremediation, with optimally-lowered resource inputs and developing economically viable and sustainable, eco-friendly end bio-based products.
• Adopt and apply a framework for supply and value chain analyses of the three pillars of sustainability (environment, economy and society), performing detailed analysis for the selected farm- and business- based systems and provide recommendations for future policy and market development.

FORTE will give evidence and develop tools that will contribute to the:

• Selection of improved fiber crop varieties tailored to the ecology and pedo- climatic conditions of Greece.
• Knowledge development on optimum cultivating techniques when cultivate HFK in contaminated sites.
• Production of bio-based raw material for industrial uses exploiting land that cannot be given for food production and, thus, releasing agricultural land from the cultivation of non-food cash crops.
• Awareness on quality and safety issues of the produced biomass and its valorization, as well as on potential market shares.
• Information of local communities, cooperatives, industrial actors and businesses for new market opportunities.
• The prospects of job creation for women, men and young people, both within their family farms and along the supply chain of the produced biomaterials.

Lignocellulosic material is the most promising raw material -as a natural and renewable resource- for the modern industrialized societies. The production of biobased raw materials for industrial uses will actively contribute to boosting the bioeconomy, increasing productivity and supporting employment. Main targets of this objective are to:

• Develop innovative entrepreneurship by exploiting the biomass of HFK for the production of biocomposites like chipboards and insulation panels.
• Strengthen the value chain of raw materials from HFK and create further opportunities for extroversion and competitiveness.
• Increase the availability of domestic raw materials and the ability to be used in new emerging markets.

Cultivating HFK in contaminated sites and exploiting the produced biomass for industrial uses represent an opportunity to boost local economies and respond to the expected increase in demand for fibers. This solution could be very important to stimulate growth and create jobs at the regional level. Communication between main stakeholders is essential for this.

FORTE will perform for dissemination 3 National workshops with at least 60 stakeholders each, 2 open days in thematic exhibitions (e.g. in AGROTICA which visited by more than 120000 attendees) and 4 demo days with field visits for students, farmers, businessmen, scientists, etc with at least 30 stakeholders each. It is expected that more than 500 stakeholders will participate to these communication events.