What if agricultural waste could become a new source of value?

Across Northwest Europe, large amounts of horticultural residues from fruits, vegetables and flowers are still underused. These materials, often considered waste, come from production surpluses, harvest losses or extreme weather events. Yet, they represent a major untapped opportunity for a more sustainable and circular economy.

The VALORANT project aims to transform these residues into high-value resources. By extracting bioactive compounds such as polyphenols and applying innovative valorisation processes, the project converts agricultural by-products into ingredients for food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, as well as proteins, bioenergy and bio-based materials.

At the core of VALORANT is a practical approach:

• A joint decision-making framework to help stakeholders identify the best valorisation pathways depending on local conditions
• Pilot actions across Europe to test, validate and demonstrate real-life applications
• A digital tool, training programme and matchmaking activities to support adoption and scale-up

By bringing together farmers, food processors, industries, researchers and policymakers, VALORANT addresses both environmental and economic challenges. The project helps reduce waste, improve resource efficiency and create new value chains in the agri-food sector.

With its unique cascade approach, where each residue is used to its full potential, VALORANT contributes to accelerating the transition towards a circular, resource-efficient bioeconomy in Northwest Europe and beyond.