The European Union is the world’s largest wine producer, with more than 167 million hectolitres per year. However, for every kilogram of grapes processed, around 0.21 kg of grape stalks are generated, which are often treated as waste—used as compost or left to decompose in open air.
This practice entails significant economic and environmental costs for wineries, while the livestock sector is seeking more sustainable and cost-effective ingredients to ensure its long-term viability.
The challenge was to valorise wine by-products by giving them a new role in the food chain through a circular bioeconomy approach
On the one hand, a sugar recovery process based on milling and washing was optimised, enabling the production of bioethanol through fermentation and distillation.
In parallel, a cascade bioprocessing technology was developed, combining solid-state fermentation and hydrolysis to increase the nutritional value of grape stalks and improve nutrient assimilation by animals. Final stabilisation ensures food safety and extended shelf life.
In addition, an intelligent logistics solution was implemented, based on LiDAR sensors and IoT integration, optimising the collection of grape stalks at wineries, preventing degradation, and preserving their potential as a raw material.
PRIMA NEW FEED:
ZAMBRANA:
Sectors: Food sector, Ingredients industry
Research lines: Bioeconomy, Circular economy, Food sustainability and eco-efficiency
Research sublines: Biomass utilisation and biological valorisation, Efficient production, Food sustainability, New sources of proteins and bioproducts