The **Brew-Up** project will explore how the UK's brewing industry can transform one of its largest by‑products---brewers' spent grain (BSG)---into valuable, sustainable materials that support the transition to a circular economy. More than 500,000 tonnes of BSG are produced every year in the UK. At present, most of this material is used as low‑value animal feed, sent to anaerobic digestion, or disposed of to landfill. These routes provide limited economic return and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. BSG is rich in protein, fibre and lignin, making it a promising feedstock for new bio‑based products. The Brew‑Up project will test the feasibility of an **integrated biorefinery approach** that separates BSG into three useful product streams: **1: Protein** concentrate that could be used in functional foods, animal feed and nutritional supplements. **2: Fibre** suitable for applications such as bakery ingredients, moulded packaging and recycled paper. **3: Lignin** extract with potential use in bio‑based coatings, adhesives and as a sustainable alternative to persistent chemicals. The innovative aspects of this project will ensure that the focus is on producing **multiple high-value outputs** from a single process, rather than relying on one end use. The project will explore a critical question regarding the influence of BSG characteristics (e.g. particle size, solvent:biomass ratio) on a combination of sustainable processing methods, including enzymatic treatments, green solvents and mechanical separation, to maximise recovery of each component. This integrated approach aims to ensure that nothing is wasted and that every part of the grain is put to productive use. Alongside the technical work, the project will assess the environmental and economic benefits of BSG valorisation. This includes understanding how new products can reduce reliance on imported soy protein, wood pulp and petrochemical‑based materials. By creating local supply chains, the project could help cut transport emissions, improve resource security and generate new revenue opportunities for UK breweries and manufacturers. The Brew‑Up project also supports wider national goals. It aligns with the UK's commitment to achieve **net zero carbon emissions by 2050**, reduce waste and promote sustainable manufacturing. By demonstrating the potential of BSG as a renewable raw material, the project will contribute to the growth of the UK's bio‑based economy and highlight how traditional industries can innovate to meet modern environmental challenges. In summary, Brew‑Up will turn a plentiful by‑product into a valuable resource, creating benefits for the economy, the environment and society.

Intestinal hyperpermeability or leaky gut syndrome (LGS) is increasingly recognised as a problem linked to a wide range of physical and mental health conditions. LGS can lead to entry of harmful agents such as bacteria and toxins through the junctions of the intestinal epithelium, reaching the blood stream and affecting hormonal, immune, nervous and other systems. Hence, intestinal hyperpermeability/leaky gut is associated with intestinal dysbiosis and intestinal disease e.g. inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) but also with the development of chronic diseases such as diabetes, CVD and Alzheimer's. There is evidence emerging that polyphenol-rich diets have beneficial gut health effects, reducing the incidence and severity of IBD and improving LGS in the elderly, with emphasis on the prebiotic character of polyphenols to promote and support a healthy gut microbiome. The SPINlife project aims to develop phytochemical-rich food product solutions with the potency to benefit intestinal barrier function, gut inflammation and gut microbiota, with relevance to aging and metabolically challenged populations. The challenge is to cost-effectively and sustainably generate polyphenol-rich ingredients that can be incorporated into widely consumed food products, such that their beneficial effects are retained, whilst ensuring consumer acceptance and remaining affordable. To achieve this aim, the project will make use of readily available UK-sourced agri-food by-products (AFBPs). Diverting them from current disposal routes (incineration, landfill, anaerobic digestion, field spreading) will help circularise the economy and reduce the carbon footprint of derived products. AFBPs will be processed using techniques that can produce concentrated polyphenol-rich extracts suitable for addition to food. Processing methods such as fermentation in conjunction with drying and encapsulation of extracts to mask off-flavours will be evaluated as a means of producing a range of food ingredients with additional gut health benefits, longer shelf-life and consumer acceptance. The polyphenol-rich ingredients will be added to a range of widely consumed foods that include dairy products (for example yoghurt) and baked goods (for example bread and biscuits). The gut health benefits of these biofortified products will be evaluated using _in vitro_ human models while their consumer acceptance will be determined using sensory panels. Techno-economic analysis will ensure that cost-effective solutions are developed with the potential to benefit the wider community by preventing or slowing the occurrence of debilitating health conditions linked to poor gut health that affect more than 1-in-4 of the UK population.

1. 1/3 of all farm production is lost as waste, these crops contain vital minerals and vitamins that are essential for biofortification of foods to enhance nutrition and public health. FORTYeast focuses on the feasibility to develop new and novel methods to recover the nutrients, and develop new protein rich ingredients. Vegetables contain a wide selection of critical minerals and vitamins necessary for good health. Socio economic groups CDE are resistant to public health messaging. Cost effective nutrition, and especially biofortification is a key focus on improving overall population health. FORTYeast uses new techniques and methods to work on the production of low cost, but highly function ingredients enriching protein, vitamin and mineral enhancement to everyday foods. FORTYeast is working with large farming groups to reduce the on-farm waste, enhancing the value creation of crops, using the ugly veg and supporting a transition to a low-carbon circular bioeconomy. Importantly the project approach uses natural methods to create significant opportunities for innovative food ingredients and food product development. The technology being developed can be applied across a wide range of fruit, vegetables and even seaweed.

SOLARSAVER2 focuses on delivering a sustainable business model for using innovative low carbon off grid drying solutions. The project aims to create value for small- and large-scale sub-Saharan agricultural producers and other stakeholders by adding a new sustainable technical and processing solution delivered at a pricing level suitable for deployment in Africa and Asia to create highly nutritious products and reduce food waste. Fruit and vegetable products are of high moisture content. The key target is to significantly reduce the energy consumption, operating costs and carbon footprint of conventional drying techniques using an innovative low-temperature drying process. The sustainable delivery of low cost drying has a significant impact on the different sections of society such as the poor (majority of farmers) and women (about 50%) are catered for. Extensive operations and trials are planned with partners in Tanzania including local manufacturing. The processing solution is such that it can be easily deployed on-farm at different degrees of decentralisation and in centralised small, medium and large-scale industrial sites.

Inflammation is a natural response to injury, infection, or tissue damage, however, chronic inflammation can also contribute to the development of age-related diseases, including cardiovascular disease (CVD), Alzheimer's disease, type-2 diabetes, arthritis, and some cancers. These chronic diseases present a significant healthcare and economic burden; The British Heart Foundation estimates that CVD alone costs the UK economy \>£19 billion/year, of which £9 billion are direct healthcare costs and the remainder indirect costs e.g., productivity losses. Carotenoids have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties and help control or prevent inflammation. Carotenoids occur in many fruits and vegetables and are known for their antioxidant properties. Consuming a high carotenoid diet is associated with reduced inflammation and a lower risk of chronic diseases such as CVD, diabetes and some cancers. Beneficial carotenoids include beta-carotene, astaxanthin, zeaxanthin and lutein; the latter associated with prevention of age-related blindness. Elderly people often have lower levels of carotenoids, including those with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity, in their diets compared to younger adults. This is due to various factors e.g., changes in dietary habits, reduced appetite and limited access to nutrient-rich foods. The absorption and uptake of carotenoids also declines with age due to digestive system changes, including reduced production of digestive enzymes and slower intestinal motility. Other factors include medication, chronic diseases (e.g. diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease), poor dietary habits, restricted diets due to health conditions and decreased appetite. Supplementation of frequently consumed foods with carotenoids to create functional foods will help address these issues. The challenge is to sustainably produce the functional foods so that they are acceptable to consumers. whilst ensuring the carotenoids are bio-accessible and readily absorbed. Green microalgae such as Chlorella can potentially provide a sustainable source of carotenoids with lower environmental impact and land usage compared to traditional agriculture, with scope for production in urban environments, however, they can have a strong and distinctive flavour that some people find unpleasant. This project aims to address the challenge through: * Selection of high yielding microalgae with reduced off-flavours and efficient production of carotenoid-enriched biomass and extracts for addition to food. * Identification of off-flavours components and formulation of extracts and functional foods to include natural ingredients that mask unacceptable flavours to ensure consumer acceptance. * Evaluation of carotenoid bio-accessibility. As part of this feasibility study, the sustainability and economics of the technologies employed to produce the food supplements and marketability will also be assessed.

**PolyPig aims to address a commercial and animal welfare need for sustainably produced feed to protect the health of piglets and improve survival and growth post-weaning.** This is desirable because of high mortality rates and disease incidence associated with early stages of pig development, due to factors such as oxidative stress that causes gut damage. Until recently, piglet feeds contained high levels of zinc oxide as an anti-microbial and growth promoter; however, this has been identified as a contributor to environmental contamination and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Feeding of therapeutic levels of zinc oxide has been banned in Europe from June 2022; therefore, it is imperative that more sustainable alternative solutions are available. **The objective of PolyPig is to develop prior studies that demonstrated supplementation of piglet feed with polyphenols provides desirable protective effects; improving piglet gut health and survival.** Polyphenols are naturally occurring anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant compounds present in a wide range of plant materials, especially red beetroot. Large quantities of beetroot waste are generated from harvesting and processing for human consumption, exploitation of these by-products would provide a sustainable source of polyphenols for use as feed supplements. **A further objective is to implement sustainable methods for efficient polyphenol extraction from agri-food by-products (AFBPs).** This is necessary to separate the polyphenols from the plant fibre which is undesirable. Fibre inclusion in piglet feed exacerbates gut health problems associated with weaning. Previously developed energy efficient 'green' extraction and purification methods will be evaluated and optimised to enable large-scale processing of beetroot by­products. **The innovative combination of scalable biorefining of AFBPs for sustainable production of polyphenol supplemented piglet feed will create significant benefits for the farming community.** Improved productivity and growth, with enhanced meat quality and product shelf-life, enable increased exports of pig products and reduced importation. AFBP exploitation will generate additional revenue streams for farmers, divert waste from landfill and help achievement of net-zero carbon emission targets. PolyPig will initially focus on extraction of polyphenols from red beetroot, however, other agricultural and food waste-streams can also be exploited. Additional opportunities for innovative animal feed formulations and new product development will be generated, whilst the biorefinery engineering designs developed during this project will be scalable and applicable to novel by-products. **Manufacturing of innovative animal feeds based on AFBP-derived supplementation will help grow the UK economy and create employment opportunities, while supporting a transition to a low-carbon circular bioeconomy.**

**-AdvanceYeastProt** aims to create an unprecedented low-emission, indulgent, highly structured protein and vitamin enriched yeast-based "whole-cut" food product, to answer consumers' and market demands, while boosting the reduction of food loss and freshwater usage by promoting the recovery of vegetable retailers' side-streams while creating -The necessity for such product derives from the increased governmental and general-public awareness, and demand, for more sustainable and healthier non-meat derived protein-sources. This to feed the growing population, and provide the consumers with more nutritious, healthier, environmentally-friendly and committed to animal welfare choices. -The development of this innovative biotechnology and a new high-protein product locally will aid UK's reliance on imports and help deliver stated government targets on net-zero and environmental obligations. **Our Product:** Will offer an indulgent experience hitting expectations of consumer quality (flavour, texture and mouthfeel), improved nutrient value, clean-label, reproducibility and affordability than the current alternative-protein products in the market: i) more nutritious and healthier than the competitors: in high quality protein (with all essential amino acids, including methionine, tryptophan, leucine and tyrosine, and enriched in key vitamins, especially Vit B12 and Vit D. These amino acids and vitamins are not present in other alternative proteins and so remain a deficit in certain diets. ii) other attributes are a) no use of antibiotics or growth hormones, b) be associated with a meaty umami flavour c) less processed and d) with less additives, than the competitors. iii) it is a raw "whole-cut" alternative which will provide the domestic consumer with the opportunity to cook as they desire. -We will further innovate by engineering the technological process to make it more **sustainable and economic**, providing marketing solutions to prevent and reduce food loss: We will incorporate vegetable industry side-streams that otherwise would normally be disposed of on the soil, which will add the texture, nutrients and the required water (expensive resource and in short supply) to the product. -Once proven this innovative approach will fast forward the development for upcycling vegetable loss initially using Industrial side-streams but ultimately including those produced from domestic gardens, small-holdings, and allotments, respectively.

Dietary intakes of omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (O3LC-PUFAs) play an important role in the regulation of the development of the brain and normal heart function and the regulation of blood triglyceride content including, inflammatory and immune responses. The European Food Standards Authority (EFSA) approval of health claims relating to the benefits of O3LC-PUFA intake concluded that 250mg/day is required for the maintenance of general cardiovascular health among healthy adults and children and 2-4g/day is needed for maintenance of blood pressure and triglyceride levels. Presently, the main sources for O3LC-PUFAs are fish and fish oils, however, the production of these sources is unsustainable and unlikely to meet the growing demand, especially for vegan sources. Only 25% of the UK population are oily fish consumers and further decreases are anticipated due to growing plant-based diets and sustainability concerns. Microalgae such as _Chlorella vulgaris_ provide a sustainable alternative source of O3LC-PUFAs, however food products containing them have poor consumer acceptance due to strong 'fishy' odours. Furthermore, they lack efficacy with regard to dose of O3LC-PUFAs delivered (poor bioavailability) increasing the gap between dietary intake and recommendations (particularly for children, teenagers, females and pregnant women) which has significant implications for human health in current and future generations. Liposomes (small oil droplets) exist in many foods naturally in the form of emulsions, such as human milk. Ultrasonic cavitation (UCav) of oils generates nano-sized droplets (nano-liposomes) which in the presence of water or aqueous solutions creates nano-emulsions. Oils in nano-emulsions survive passage through the digestive system (bioaccessibility), are more readily digested and absorbed from the gut (bioavailability). UCav is energy intensive and has limited scope for industrial scale nano-emulsion production. This project will evaluate more sustainable, scalable, mechanical cavitation (MCav) methods for microalgal oil nanoliposome production which, in association with flavour masking techniques, will aim to produce various readily-consumed foods and supplements containing O3LC-PUFAs with improved bioaccessibility and bioavailability. The performance of these innovative functional foods and supplements will be determined through _in vitro_ digestion (human digestive models), whilst consumer acceptance will be determined through use of sensory panels. Extended shelf-life of the nano-liposomes in nano-emulsions will be evaluated through the addition of polyphenols which act as anti-oxidants. This project will help to pave the way towards the development of a wider range of functional foods. These have potential promise to help close the omega-3 dietary gaps and promote health in adults and children.

Sustainability and environmental impact concerns have led to a growing demand for alternatives to oil-based plastic packaging. In the UK, paper and board for packaging are primarily manufactured from pulp obtained from recovered paper. A progressive loss of strength occurs during recycling due to cellulose fibre damage, necessitating the use of imported materials to address the shortfall. Alternative sources of fibre suitable for use in paper and board manufacture are desirable to meet growing demands, whilst increased UK-based production will help reduce the environmental impact of importation. Previous work has demonstrated that pulp can be strengthened by addition of cellulose fibres processed to increase their slenderness and degree of fibrillation. Presently, the production of materials with these features, such as highly fibrillated cellulose fibres (HFCFs), microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) and nanocellulose (NC), is energy intensive and prohibitively expensive. Furthermore, the quantities available are insufficient to meet industry needs. The project aims to establish the feasibility of using microalgae as a sustainable source of fibre for use by the paper industry. Microalgae such as _Chlorella_ can be rapidly grown in large quantities and processed to provide a sustainable source of oils, protein and other high-value chemicals with diverse applications. The lack of lignin in the residual cell wall material favours production of MFC or NC for the manufacture of lighter, stronger packaging. This is highly desirable because transportation costs and associated greenhouse gas emissions are reduced. Exploitation of the residual cell wall materials would also enable a zero-waste solution for microalgal biorefineries. We have previously demonstrated that mechanical cavitation (MCav) of pulp and agri-food by-products is an efficient method of recovering valuable materials whilst increasing cellulose fibrillation and paper strength. MCav of microalgal suspensions would be compatible with existing methods of material handling within paper mills, minimising the requirement for novel equipment and capital expenditure. The project will examine the performance of MCav when applied to selected species of microalgae with diverse characteristics (for example oil and protein content, cell wall composition) to establish their suitability for paper manufacture. The algal fibres obtained will be added to recovered paper and the impact on mechanical strength measured. Chemical and biological pre-processing methods such as enzyme pre-treatment will also be examined as a means of enhancing production efficiency, cost-effectiveness and product performance. In addition to the economic and environmental benefits, this study will aid progress towards net-zero carbon emissions and a circular bio-economy.

The use of novel feed materials to increase sustainable protein production whilst improving the health and survival of piglets post-weaning will be addressed. Poor growth rates and high disease incidence are associated with the early post-weaning period due to factors such as oxidative stress that causes gut damage. Sustainable alternatives to zinc oxide, added to feed as an anti-microbial and growth promoter, are required to reduce morbidity and mortality and improve subsequent growth and productivity. Improved pig nutrition across the lifespan will also improve meat quality, reducing import dependence. The project will build on prior feasibility studies where supplementation of pig feed with polyphenols provided protective effects, improving piglet gut health and survival, as well as meat quality and shelf life. Polyphenols are anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant compounds present in plant materials. Agri-food by-products (AFBPs) generated by agriculture and food processing activities are readily available for processing to provide a sustainable source of polyphenol-rich feed supplements. Conventional methods (e.g., drying and milling) will be used to process AFBPs for inclusion in pig feed. Polyphenol extraction using previously developed sustainable methods will enable separation of polyphenols from plant fibre. These polyphenol rich extracts can then be standardised for use as supplements. Separation from fibre is important when feeding the young pig as high dietary fibre around weaning reduces nutrient utilisation and thus feed effciency. The benefits of polyphenol supplementation will be examined across the pig lifespan through controlled feeding trials at the University of Leeds National Pig Centre and commercial farms at Cranswick facilities. The economic and sustainability benefits of these innovative approaches will be compared to existing practices. Successful AFBP exploitation will generate additional revenue streams for farmers, divert waste from landfill and help achievement of net-zero carbon emission targets. AFBP use will also reduce the requirement for crop production for animal feed, increasing the availability of land for human food production, further contributing to food security and supply chain resilience. Significant opportunities for innovative animal feed formulations and new product development will be generated, helping grow the UK economy and create employment opportunities, while supporting a transition to a low-carbon circular bioeconomy.

**The project aims to address an identified commercial demand for sustainably produced, lighter, stronger paper and board.** This is highly desirable because their use reduces the quantity and weight of packaging and the associated transportation costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Presently, paper and board are manufactured primarily from pulp obtained from recovered paper. The pulp can be strengthened by the presence of cellulose fibres that have been processed to increase their length in proportion to their diameter. Presently, the production of materials with these features such as microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) and nanocellulose (NC) is insufficient to meet industry needs and is prohibitively expensive. **The objective of the project is to build on an ultrasonication process that can produce pulp suitable for the production of lighter, stronger products at the scale required by the industry.** Ultrasonication of pulp produces highly fibrillated cellulose fibres (HFCFs) that contribute to the strength of the finished product. Although effective, ultrasonication is energy intensive and additional mechanical, chemical and biological pre-processing methods will be examined to reduce overall energy consumption and increase cost-effectiveness. Additives to aid water drainage and drying of pulp containing HFCFs, reduce paper breakage and facilitate high speed paper production have an important role in manufacturing efficiency and sustainability will be optimised. **The combination of processing technologies will be disruptive; enabling scale-up of production whilst reducing the financial and environmental costs**. The project will initially focus on the production of pulp containing HFCFs for which there is a substantial market need. In addition to waste paper and board, side-stream materials from paper production such as wet-end trim will be used. Other agricultural and food waste streams containing fibre, such as brewer's spent grain, may also become usable enabling the increasing demand for paper and board to be met. New opportunities for process additive formulations will also be established. The engineering designs developed during this project will be scalable and usable throughout the industry. Demonstration of industrial scale HFCF production is a key target as it will increase the energy efficiency of paper and board production. Fibre sources that are currently wasted or under-utilised will help meet growing demand for sustainable packaging. In addition to the economic and environmental benefits, this will aid progress towards net-zero carbon emissions and a circular bioeconomy. **Manufacturing of light-weighted products will help grow the UK economy and create employment opportunities in the paper and chemical industries.**

**This project addresses an identified environmental, healthcare and commercial demand for sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic personal protective equipment (PPE).** As part of the UK's COVID-19 response, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) PPE strategy identifies a need for an additional 5 billion PPE items to address the increased demands from health and social care providers, however, only 70% will be produced in the UK. The DHSC strategy has also identified the need for innovative and sustainable PPE as well as improved designs to address ill-fitting/uncomfortable items. Oil-derived plastics used for PPE in clinical settings negatively impact the environment when incinerated due to the release of fossil carbon, contributing to global warming. If disposed of incorrectly, they do not biodegrade leading to contamination of land and sea with unacceptable effects on wildlife and the food supply chain. **The aim of the project is to address these issues through the development of sustainable bioplastic films to replace or reduce current oil-based plastic PPE usage.** Bioplastics derived from agri-food by-products have been used to produce materials that include flexible films. These materials can replace existing single-use plastics used as PPE that are used in large quantities in non-surgical situations, for example aprons/clinical waste bags. This project builds on recent advances in processing techniques for agri-food by-products (AFBPs), enabling the manufacture of commercially usable flexible films. AFBPs are available in the UK in large quantities (\>1.6 million tonnes per year), however, they are generally not exploited and frequently disposed to landfill or incinerated. For example, 45,000 tonnes of apple pomace are produced each year as a by-product of juice or cider production. The pomace can be further processed to produce flexible films, whilst blending with other AFBP-derived materials to produce novel features e.g. anti-microbial activity. To address issues relating to PPE performance and usability, a Human-Centred Design (HCD) approach will be used to establish the specifications and user requirements for PPE materials based on sustainable bio-based alternatives. HCD methods will be used to enhance and encourage the use of bioplastic films for PPE in the form of a protective apron. The project activities include: (i)Evaluation of stakeholder behaviour with respect to current PPE based on flexible films through interviews; (ii)Establishing human-centred features and documenting key design specifications that will encourage the uptake of novel flexible bioplastics for widespread adoption; (iii)Evaluation of user-expectations such as comfort and usability of the product, as well as requisite performance characteristics including physical properties, mechanical, durability, shelf-life and end-of-life treatment. The project focuses on production of flexible bioplastics for which there is a substantial market need. Successful production of sustainable materials for single-use PPE applications will reduce imports, grow the UK economy and create employment opportunities, whilst ensuring security of supply. Additional benefits include providing additional income for agricultural growers and reducing the quantity of waste sent to landfill. The UK's progress towards achievement of net-zero emissions of carbon dioxide by 2040 will also be supported.

The agricultural use of non-biodegradable oil-based plastics for applications such as weed-suppressant membranes, silage-wraps and poly-tunnels contribute to soil and water contamination by microplastics and toxic chemicals. They are persistent in the environment, which consequently affects plant growth, human and wildlife health. Globally, plastic film use on farms was expected to reach 7.4-million tonnes by 2019 and will continue to increase at \>5% annually, to meet the demands of increased food production in response to human population growth. The oil-based flexible-plastic films used in agriculture and horticulture are difficult and expensive to recycle because of contamination with soils, pesticides and fertilisers. The requirement for users to collect them from fields after use and transporting the materials to a recycling facility further impacts the soil quality and is time and energy consuming; resulting in greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. Consequently, the illegal burning of plastic films results in further environmental pollution. The replacement of current materials with safer alternatives and changes in farming practices are essential. Biodegradable bioplastic films manufactured from agri-food by-products (AFBPs) can provide a 'green' alternative, avoiding collection from farms for recycling and the associated environmental and economic impacts. The use of AFBPs reduces waste going to landfill or incineration, greenhouse gas emissions and the achievement of government targets for net-zero carbon release. The aim of the AgriFlex project is to use Human-Centred Design (HCD) methods to enhance and encourage the use of biodegradable bioplastic films for the agricultural and horticultural industry for weed-suppression and to conserve water in crop production. The project activities include: (i) Evaluation of stakeholder behaviour with respect to current agricultural mulch films; (ii) Establishing key design specifications and human-centred features to encourage uptake of novel flexible bioplastics for widespread adoption; and (iii) Evaluation of requisite performance characteristics including physical, mechanical, durability, shelf-life, end-of-life treatment. The HCD approach, combined with performance testing of prototype films, will ensure that future products meet the requirements of prospective end-users, increasing their acceptability, uptake and use. When combined with information from other stakeholders in the manufacturing, distribution and deployment of agricultural plastics, the commercial success of the films and return on investment will be strengthened significantly. This process will ensure successful progression from proof-of-concept to large-scale manufacturing necessary to meet market demand. Positive changes in end-user behaviour will also be more likely, supporting significant positive environmental benefits, protecting future food production, human and wildlife health.

**The project addresses an identified healthcare need and commercial demand for high-quality, sustainably-produced bioactive polyphenolic compounds.** Coronaviruses infect cells by binding to the angiotensin-converting-enzyme-2 (ACE2) membrane protein. This can be inhibited by polyphenols, specifically quercetin, increasing resistance to infection. Quercetin can reduce the severity of the immune-response and shorten recovery times. Quercetin is safe for consumption and is currently available as a supplement. However, there are issues concerning the security, purity and availability of supply. **The development of bioactive products derived from fruit and vegetables can help support the recovery of individuals by enhancing their immune response, leading to faster recovery time or protecting against future reinfection**. A whole value-chain approach for capturing market-led business opportunities to reduce food wastage and increase availability of fruit and vegetable derived foods or supplements for consumers is proposed. Polyphenols are widely present in fruits and vegetables and consumption is known to provide a range of health benefits. Flavonoid polyphenols such as quercetin and derivatives, present in apple skin, have been shown to act as anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and anti-obesity agents. **The objective of the project is to develop a sustainable and efficient biorefinery process, to enable secure, local production of quercetin.** The by-products of apple juice production (apple pomace; available in the UK/EU in large quantities), are not fully exploited and frequently disposed to landfill. The project combines recent advances in green-extraction techniques with highly-efficient separation methods, enabling quercetin recovery and purification. Additionally, the spent apple pomace can be further processed to provide a source of side-stream materials, for example nanocellulose for medical and industrial applications such as sustainable biodegradable packaging and paper manufacturing. **The combination of technologies will be innovative; enabling creation of a biorefinery to scale-up production and supply the quantities required by UK/EU industry, whilst reducing imports and creating employment**. Increased competitiveness utilising environmentally 'green' extraction and separation technologies will enable sustainable production of quercetin increasing the market share. This will grow the UK/European bioeconomy and create employment opportunities, whilst ensuring security of supply. **The availability of sustainable, high purity, quercetin for use in supplements and food products will be increased**. The project focuses on production of high-purity quercetin for which there is a substantial market need and consumer demand. This will reduce the requirement for importation of raw materials providing a source of additional income for apple growers, whilst reducing the quantity of agri-food waste sent to landfill.

**BUSINESS NEED:** Materials derived from chitin (e.g. chitosans, chitooligosaccharides (COSs) and glucosamine) are of growing importance in biomedicine, cosmetics, healthcare, packaging and agriculture. Discussions with IVC Brunel, (the leading white-label supplier of supplements to UK supermarkets) and IVC Nutrition Corporation revealed that the: \* Supplements industry is under increasing consumer pressure to provide sustainably produced, non-animal, locally sourced products. \* Most chitin-derived materials are imported from Asia, with concerns about traceability, purity, sustainability and the environmental impact of their production methods. **STATE-OF-THE-ART:** Most chitin-derived products are manufactured from crustacean shells using large quantities of toxic chemicals, generating environmentally damaging wastes. Products containing these materials must also be allergen labelled. Some chitosan is now produced commercially from fungi such as _Aspergillus niger_, whilst glucosamine can also be produced by fermentation of corn. Frequently, the purity of products is unreliable; our testing showed significantly lower levels of glucosamine than stated. Laboratory studies have demonstrated that enzymes can potentially replace chemical processing of chitin, providing the desired product specificity and quality, whilst minimising environmental impact**\[1,2\]**. **THE TECHNOLOGICAL CHALLENGE** is to translate laboratory-scale batch production methods to industrial-scale continuous manufacturing, with competitive unit costs. Waste from edible mushroom production (e.g. button mushroom, _Agaricus bisporus_) is a cheap, abundant chitin source (UK; \>15,000 tonnes waste annually). Exploitation will provide local, high-value, high purity, allergen-free chitin-derived products. The performance of candidate enzymes immobilised on solid supports will be evaluated and optimised, an approach suitable for at-scale bioreactor processing and enabling efficient recovery and re-use to control costs. When combined with tangential-flow membrane micro-filtration and nano-filtration (technologies used for recovery of high-value chemicals from other agri-food by-products**\[3\]**), continuous separation of lower molecular weight reaction products (chitosans/COSs/glucosamine) will be achieved, increasing process efficiency and enabling 'one-pot' non-stop production. **This technology combination will be disruptive, enabling cost-effective production at-scale which will be patentable to enable licensing.** **THE MARKET OPPORTUNITY** for glucosamine and chitosan are estimated to be $1.2Billion and $6.8Billion, respectively**\[4,5,6\]**. IVC Brunel use over 200 tonnes of glucosamine annually costing them $6million/year; satisfying their requirements alone with a competitive animal-free, allergen-free glucosamine would provide the consortium with UK revenue \>$15 million over 5 years. A 5% share of the European glucosamine and chitosan markets through IVC Nutrition Corporation would generate revenue \>$282.M over 5 years. Oligosaccharide market data (galactooligosaccharides, $860M) suggests revenues from COSs \>$5M over 5 years**\[7\]**. **1**Ly\_et.al(2017)\_DOI:10.1039/c6gc02910h **2**Kaczmarek\_et.al(2019)\_doi:10.3389/fbioe.2019.00243 **3**BBI-H2020\_project\_https://www.activatec-bi.com/projects **4**Technavio(2019)\_ https://www.technavio.com/report/glucosamine-market-industry-analysis **5**GrandView Research(2019)\_https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-glucosamine-market **6**GrandView Research (2019)\_https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/global-chitosan-market **7**Grandview Research(2019)\_https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/galacto-oligosaccharides-gos-market