Bio-LUSH addresses a growing need and demand to utilize underexploited biomass feedstocks for sustainable and high-quality fibre extraction. Within the project, we will establish innovative processes for optimal biomass refining and fibrillation to nanoscale to convert obtained sustainable fibres into functional biobased materials. Along with hemp hurd and forest residues, selection of other green underexplored biomass feedstocks (nettle and seagrasses) was based on availability in Europe as well as ecological benefits such as utilization of marginal lands, biodiversity protection and without competing with food production. Also, traditional breeding through crosses will be used to improve the agronomical and fiber yield properties of the identified “novel crops”. Certification procedures and a standardization roadmap will be established in a form of nanocellulose quality index to assure effective benchmarking within the obtained (nano)fibres. Moreover, the results of advanced characterization of feedstock, fibers and biobased products will be collected in dataset to employ machine learning tools to design biobased materials based on fibres properties. We will demonstrate the biomass processing and manufacturing (both at TRL5) of biobased products such as edible packaging, antibacterial textiles and 3D printable bio(nano)composite filaments for impact resistant car interior products. The Bio-LUSH consortium brings together actors from the entire value chain, comprised of 12 partners from 8 countries including 7 industry partners (3 SMEs, 4 LEs), who will ensure that the developed solutions will be industrially viable (environmentally, economically, socially). Bio-LUSH includes activities on enhancement of social acceptance of the materials to facilitate the route to market, which will be supported by a dedicated business plan. Integration of Agro sector/farmer communities and access to EU feedstock is ensured through advisory board member, Bast Fibre Technology.

The AquaNES project will catalyse innovations in water and wastewater treatment processes and management through improved combinations of natural and engineered components. Among the demonstrated solutions are natural treatment processes such as bank filtration (BF), managed aquifer recharge (MAR) and constructed wetlands (CW) plus engineered pre- and post-treatment options. The project focuses on 13 demonstration sites in Europe, India and Israel covering a repre-sentative range of regional, climatic, and hydrogeological conditions in which different combined natural-engineered treatment systems (cNES) will be demonstrated through active collaboration of knowledge and technology providers, water utilities and end-users. Our specific objectives are • to demonstrate the benefits of post-treatment options such as membranes, activated carbon and ozonation after bank filtration for the production of safe drinking water • to validate the treatment and storage capacity of soil-aquifer systems in combination with oxidative pre-treatments • to demonstrate the combination of constructed wetlands with different technical post- or pre-treatment options (ozone or bioreactor systems) as a wastewater treatment option • to evidence reductions in operating costs and energy consumption • to test a robust risk assessment framework for cNES • to deliver design guidance for cNES informed by industrial or near-industrial scale expe-riences • to identify and profile new market opportunities in Europe and overseas for cNES The AquaNES project will demonstrate combined natural-engineered treatment systems as sus-tainable adaptations to issues such as water scarcity, excess water in cities and micro-pollutants in the water cycle. It will thus have impact across the EIP Water’s thematic priorities and cross-cutting issues, particularly on ‘Water reuse & recycling’, ‘Water and wastewater treatment’, ‘Water-energy nexus’, ‘Ecosystem services’, ‘Water governance’, and ‘DSS & monitoring’.