European Bioeconomy representatives visit Matrìca biorefinery as a concrete example of NOVAMONT’s model

  friday 9th september 2016

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European Bioeconomy representatives visit Matrìca biorefinery as a concrete example of NOVAMONT’s model

On 6 September John Bell, Director of Bioeconomy in DG Research and Innovation (European Commission) and Philippe Mengal, Executive Director of the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (JU BBI), visited Matrìca biorefinery, NOVAMONT’s and Versalis’ (Eni) Joint Venture. The delegation, composed also by Elisabetta Balzi - Deputy Head of Unit of the Directorate's Strategy Unit on Bioeconomy and Prof. Fabio Fava - Italian Representative for Bioeconomy in H2020 and in the BBI JU, had the opportunity to see the tangible results of the model promoted by NOVAMONT. The model is based on integrated biorefineries as an opportunity for territorial regeneration and on a close cooperation with the local agricultural supply chain. In particular, the delegation visited Matrìca’s innovative industrial plants and research center and a local farm, where trials on the thistle culture  are ongoing.
 


The institutional visit confirms the attention of the European Union towards NOVAMONT’s approach to bioeconomy, which has found also expression in the European "flagship" project First2Run, funded by the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking and aiming to demonstrate the technical, economic and environmental sustainability of a biorefinery integrated in the territory.
The Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking  is a Public-Private Partnership between the European Union and the Bio-based Industries Consortium.