Pilot 1: Circular Agri-Food and Livestock Systems in Crete
Dispersed agricultural, livestock and food-processing side streams need workable collection, processing and end-use arrangements before they can become dependable local resources.
The Crete pilot brings together livestock, agriculture and food processing through three complementary circular value chains. Each connects an available biological side stream with a practical use, while combining technical development with the requirements of the local actors who would operate the solution.
The wool pathway coordinates seasonal collection, transport and mechanical processing to produce experimental pellets for soil applications. Processing trials and agronomic work examine pellet preparation, functional additives, water retention and nutrient-related behaviour. The agricultural pathway uses faba bean residues directly in the field before tomato cultivation. It compares a control with incorporation at flowering and after harvest, supported by soil analyses and continuous soil and microclimate monitoring.
The food pathway develops enriched bakery dough using oat- and carob-processing by-products. Recipe work considers dough stability, rising and maturation, production and storage conditions, nutritional composition and consumer acceptance. This links the characteristics of the side streams with the operating needs of bakeries.
Across the three cases, the pilot combines material flows, processing, cultivation or product testing and stakeholder participation. Repeated collection and cultivation activities extend the practical experience, while the developed protocols and formulations provide a basis for further assessment and uptake.
Monitoring is tailored to the three applications. Wool work combines collection and processing information with pellet and cultivation trials. Agricultural work compares three residue-management conditions using soil analyses and continuous environmental observations. Bakery work combines process behaviour, nutritional characterisation and organoleptic or consumer evaluation.
The common assessment challenge is to relate a circular intervention to the actual operating conditions and comparator. The pilot's measurements therefore support both technical optimisation and the wider circularity and sustainability assessment.
Dispersed agricultural, livestock and food-processing side streams need workable collection, processing and end-use arrangements before they can become dependable local resources.
Current work combines sheep-wool pellet development, comparative tomato-cultivation trials and enriched bakery formulations. Nutritional analysis and early market feedback support further development and adoption planning.