Review: Project partner meeting and study visit in Leipzig

At the end of September, the Symcraft project met in Markkleeberg near Leipzig. Two days full of exchange, new ideas, and practical insights.

At the project meeting, the partners discussed tools and models relating to service portfolios, legal issues, and business models. To kick off the study visit on "Agrifood," Dr. Ute Bauermeister gave a presentation and demonstrated test products showing possible uses for fibers from the solid residues of biogas production.

The subsequent study visit tour was then entirely devoted to hemp: at Fiuus GmbH in Zwenkau, we gained insights into the cultivation, harvesting, and processing of bast fibers—and how by-products can be put to good use. The discussions impressively demonstrated how economics and ecology go hand in hand here and how new business areas can be developed for European agriculture. Particularly exciting: pellets for organic animal feed are to be produced from the residual materials of fiber production – initial trials by Valere Agrar Service GmbH in this area are promising.

Both companies were brought together by the Symcraft project and are now working together on the technological solutions needed to implement the project. In this way, Symcraft combines research and practice—and helps to promote sustainable innovation in Europe.