Project summary

The project AgReCOMPOSITES falls under the Pillar I “Smart Growth” that constitutes one of the three strategy pillars of the Restart 2016-2020 Programmes of the Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF), and it is fully compatible with S3CY “Agriculture- Food Industry” priority sector. The Host Organization of the project is Elysee.

 Carbon-based polymer composites are replacing many conventional materials due to their enhanced thermomechanical properties in various applications. Although, carbon-based fillers, including carbon nanotubes, carbon nano-fibers and graphene that are typically employed as additives, are not environmentally and economically viable. Thus, one of the project objectives is to develop sustainable, cost- effective and environmentally viable polymer composites. The latter is going to be achieved by incorporating biochar-based fillers deriving from pyrolysis of agricultural and livestock wastes.

The project aims to the development of innovative and sustainable polymer composites in the form of novel plastic products mainly for irrigation and water supply.

Project objectives

The main objective of the AgReComposites project is the employment of biochar-based additives in Polypropylene (PP) and Polyethylene (PE) virgin thermoplastics and thermoplastic recyclates for the fabrication of “green” plastic pipes and fittings.

Furthermore, another important objective, is the enhancement of an effective collaboration between enterprises and research community, that aims to identify challenges and to develop new sustainable solutions by implementing R&D projects.

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AgReCOMPOSITES Successfully Concludes, Advancing Sustainable Materials for Water Infrastructure

After two years of research and innovation, the AgReCOMPOSITES project has successfully concluded, delivering important advances in the development of sustainable composite materials for irrigation and water supply applications.

Coordinated by Elysee Irrigation Ltd., the project explored the use of biochar derived from agricultural and livestock waste as a reinforcing material in polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) composites. By combining biochar with recycled and virgin polymers, the project aimed to create more sustainable alternatives for pipes and fittings while supporting circular economy principles.

Throughout the project, the consortium developed and evaluated innovative biochar-enhanced composite formulations, manufactured prototype products, and validated their performance through laboratory testing and industrial-scale manufacturing processes.

The project brought together the expertise of Elysee Irrigation Ltd., University of Cyprus, The Cyprus Institute, and AgroTech Innovations Ltd., creating a collaborative platform for sustainable materials research and industrial innovation.

The results demonstrate the potential of agricultural and livestock waste to become valuable resources for advanced manufacturing, contributing to resource efficiency, reduced dependence on virgin raw materials, and the development of greener infrastructure solutions.

While the project has now been completed, its outcomes provide a strong foundation for future product development, commercialisation activities, and further innovation in sustainable polymer composites.

AgReCOMPOSITES represents an important step towards a more circular, resilient, and sustainable future for the water and irrigation sectors.

Partners

Funding Agencies

The Project CODEVELOP-AG-SH-HE/0823/0140 is funded by the European Union - NextGenerationEU, through the Research and Innovation Foundation.