Circular Bioeconomy

Converting horticultural waste and by-products into valuable new resources and materials that generate new revenue streams and benefit our environment.

Food Accelerator _ Nim's - 57 Small.jpeg

Growing a
Circular Bioeconomy
in Kent & Medway

Advances in biotechnology and bioengineering are identifying new uses for the waste created when we grow and process our food.

Unused crop parts, like stems and leaves, can be transformed into bioplastics, packaging, and sustainable construction materials. Nutrient-rich compounds can be extracted from fruit waste to become natural food additives with gut-health and anti-cancer benefits.

These transformations are already happening and the new commodities are being used across sectors, from cosmetics and pharmaceuticals to manufacturing and even back into agriculture and soil enhancers and fertilisers.

Finding high-value uses for what was once waste strengthens our economy and reduces the environmental footprint of the food system. It’s a win for business, people, and the planet

Powering a Circular Bioeconomy

Our ecosystem connects food producers, scientists, policymakers and biorefinery businesses to identify and realise the untapped potential of waste material.
But to scale up this transformation, we need coordination and targeted investment. Only by aligning technology, transport, and processing infrastructure, we can unlock the full potential of our regional waste materials

New Ingredients Case Studies

Man (Richard Small) in sunglasses and cap smiling outdoors, wearing a green jacket. Background of trees and cloudy sky suggests a cheerful nature setting.

Turning Food Waste into Sustainable Insect Frass Fertiliser with Inspro

Inspro, supported by Growing Kent & Medway, successfully demonstrated a circular solution for organic waste using Black Soldier Fly larvae. By converting waste streams into nutrient-rich "frass", the project validated a sustainable alternative to synthetic fertilisers that boosts soil health and microbial diversity.

Growing Kent & Medway

4 min read

A close-up of a mound of dark, granular biochar with a rough texture. The setting is blurred, emphasizing the coarse, black material.

Transforming Farm Waste into Carbon-Locking Biochar with Re-generation Earth

Re-generation Earth, in collaboration with the University of Kent, utilised one of our large R&D grant programmes to establish an on-farm "Living Lab" for biochar production. The project demonstrated that while biochar is most effective as a nutrient carrier rather than a standalone fertiliser, it offers significant potential for long-term carbon sequestration and soil health improvement.

Growing Kent & Medway

4 min read

Woman stands by a table with Root Mylk brochures and products in the Medway Food Innovation Centre lab. Wears patterned dress and glasses, looking at the camera.

Stabilising African Superfoods for the Plant-Based Market with Root Mylk

Root Mylk, a Kent-based wellness brand, successfully stabilised their plant-based Tigernut drinks using advanced processing techniques supported by Growing Kent & Medway. By collaborating with the University of Greenwich, they developed a clean-label formulation that eliminates separation and increases shelf life, paving the way for a major retail launch.

Growing Kent & Medway

4 min read

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