CropExplore tool can help the Flemish bioeconomy move forward

The CropExplore-tool provides information on 412 crops and 837 plant-based raw materials that are of interest to the Flemish bioeconomy. It allows growers to compare crops and offers companies inspiration for sustainable product innovations. Growers who want to diversify and add new crops to their rotation often find it difficult to make the right choice due to fragmented information. At the same time, the processing industry is looking for sustainable bio-raw materials for circular production and less dependence on imports. To address these challenges, a tool has been developed that brings together, among other things, cultivation characteristics, yields, constituents and market opportunities for crops with potential for the Flemish bioeconomy. In addition, the functional properties and applicability of a selection of interesting raw materials were experimentally determined in a number of basic products. 

User-friendly online search tool

All this information was then translated into a user-friendly online search tool containing information on 412 crops and 837 plant-based raw materials. The CropExplore tool allows you to search specifically for known and lesser-known raw materials with certain nutritional or functional properties or that can be used in a particular application. You will also learn a lot about the crops, such as where and in what volumes they are grown and what the legislation says about them. The information in this tool will be kept up to date in the coming years with input from other projects to ensure that the tool remains relevant.

Consortium

CropExplore 4 Farmers is an interclusterproject that was conducted by the following partners: HOGent, KULeuven, Vives Hogeschool, ILVO, Inagro, Proefcentrum voor de Groenteteelt PCG, Praktijkpunt Landbouw Vlaams-Brabant, Boerenbond, Flanders’ FOOD and Catalisti. Learn more about the CropExplore 4 Farmers project in our project portfolio. 

Deder and Hemp cases

During the project three demonstration cases were worked out around deder, yacon and hemp. The deder case with the applications of deder oil and the case around the valorization of hemp tops and shives, can be relevant for our industry. If you are interested in the findings and samples, please contact Catalisti's Bert Boekaerts via bboekaertscatalisti.be (bboekaerts[at]catalisti[dot]be).