BioRural Success Stories: #2 Strengthening Rural Europe through Food & Agriculture Innovations

Insignes Labs develops innovative, eco-friendly agricultural solutions using its proprietary PURE Technology—a mineral-based platform that enhances plant health and resilience. Their flagship product, PURE ONE, supports crop growth by stimulating natural immunity, reducing the need for synthetic pesticides (by up to 50%) and fertilizers (by up to 20%). This triple-action solution—Substitution, Optimalisation, and Supplementation—improves nutrient uptake, boosts photosynthesis, and increases biomass production, contributing to CO₂ sequestration. PURE ONE has been tested on a wide range of crops and represents a promising step toward sustainable, high-yield farming.

This initiative supports the agricultural sector by integrating cutting-edge digital technologies—such as satellite and UAV monitoring, IoT sensors, GPS, and advanced software for pest modeling and image processing—to enable precision farming practices. Through capacity building and education, it fosters the adoption of these tools to optimize resource management, reduce chemical inputs, conserve biodiversity, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. By improving land-use efficiency and enhancing supply chain transparency, the project contributes to environmental sustainability and helps farmers adapt to climate change challenges.

The Danish farm Ausumgaard operates a full-scale biorefining plant producing green protein from locally grown grass and alfalfa as a sustainable alternative to imported soy in feed for monogastric animals such as pigs and poultry. Using advanced biorefining technology, fresh grass is processed into fiber pulp, green protein, and a residual brown juice. The green protein’s amino acid profile makes it especially suitable for one-stomached animals, supporting local feed production and reducing reliance on soy imports. Grass cultivation is carefully managed to optimize yield and protein content, with raw materials sourced both from Ausumgaard’s own fields and neighboring farms.

SpirulinaNord is the only producer of spirulina—a highly nutritious tropical microalgae—in Northern Europe, having developed a unique, closed bioreactor system adapted to Latvia’s climate. This innovative cultivation method enables year-round, pesticide-free production in a controlled, eco-friendly environment that ensures product safety and consistent quality. The company also pioneered globally unique fresh spirulina drinks infused with apple juice, quince, or cranberry syrup, alongside fresh frozen spirulina, widely appreciated for its nutritional value and especially suitable for diabetics. SpirulinaNord exemplifies sustainable innovation in food production and efficient resource use through automation and circular practices.

ŽIPO Lenart d.o.o. is a diversified agricultural enterprise managing 870 ha of land in Slovenia, with a strong focus on sustainable beef cattle breeding and crop production. It operates two facilities for Simmental bull progeny testing and houses over 1,300 cattle. The company has modernized its grain drying and storage using green energy solutions, enhancing its competitiveness and environmental contribution. ŽIPO has also invested in four rooftop solar power plants (190 kW total), reinforcing its commitment to renewable energy. Through its patented product line, Lenabox, it offers chopped, dust-free straw bedding and includes it in its Lenamix feed for calves, supporting animal health and efficient farm management.

Alcarràs Biohub began in 2006 when 150 small pig and cattle farms in Alcarràs, Spain—an area with one of Europe’s highest livestock densities—joined forces to address the collective challenge of managing over 300,000 m³ of slurry and 250,000 tons of manure annually. Facing legal and environmental pressures, individual solutions proved unfeasible. Through collaboration between local farmers’ associations, they established a medium-scale composting and biogas plant, creating a foundational step toward a circular local biohub model, reducing environmental impact and management costs.

San Isidro Cooperative in Canena, Spain, successfully addressed the challenge of olive washing wastewater, an agro-industrial by-product common in Southern Europe. Starting in the 1990s, they implemented a system in 2000 to collect and evaporate the wastewater. To enable reuse in local irrigation, they installed a high-performance filtering system in 2010 to remove solids and meet the technical standards of local irrigation communities. In 2011, the cooperative partnered with Corral Rubio de las Grullas Irrigation Community to apply the treated water, gradually building trust through transparency and performance. In 2020, they co-launched the SUBALMA EIP-AGRI operational group with AZUD and other stakeholders to study and optimise fertigation impacts and efficiency.

Aquaponics Iberia has developed SWIMS (Solid Waste Integrated Management System), an innovative aquaponics technology that enhances sustainability, productivity, and ease of maintenance. The system integrates Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) with hydroponics, creating a closed-loop where fish waste feeds plants, and plants purify the water. This eliminates the need for synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or fish medications. Duckweed, grown from residual organic waste, replaces up to 30% of fish feed, reinforcing circularity. Commercial units operate in Portugal and the Caribbean, and two pilot systems are installed in schools via the School Farming project. The Fish n’ Greens initiative aims to scale this model to urban areas, promoting local, fresh, and eco-friendly food production.

Agro Solar specializes in the production, installation, and maintenance of solar dryers and air solar systems. Their solar dryers support small-scale farmers and processors by preserving fruits and vegetables using renewable energy, reducing dependency on electricity and fossil fuels. These systems maintain nutritional value, extend shelf life, and minimize food waste by drying second-class produce. Built with local materials, they are cost-effective and sustainable. Agro Solar’s air solar systems offer efficient, low-emission solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial heating, contributing to energy savings and environmental protection.

Located in Greece, Oinosporos applies circular economy principles by upcycling grape seeds—a winemaking by-product—into high-value beauty products. This innovative approach reduces environmental impact while promoting sustainability in the cosmetics sector. Through eco-conscious production and continuous innovation, Oinosporos demonstrates how waste can be transformed into premium goods, setting a positive example for the beauty industry and contributing to a more sustainable future.

Ribes Technologies is a startup developing smart tech solutions for fruit growers. They created an autonomous system for precision pest control in berry plantations, reducing pesticide use by 50% and minimizing residues on fruit. Mounted on the autonomous vehicle “Isidore,” the system uses a vision-guided sprayer to apply two different treatments simultaneously and only where needed. The vehicle also supports transport tasks. Complementing this, their solar-powered digital pest trap, equipped with a camera, enables real-time monitoring and optimizes intervention timing, reducing the need for constant field checks.

“Garlic Moon” is a rural women-led business producing black garlic through natural long-term fermentation of old Lithuanian white garlic varieties. Developed with VDU Agricultural Academy, the process avoids plastic use by manually controlling humidity, preventing microplastics in food. Only local, hand-cleaned garlic is used, while unfit heads are repurposed by another farm for spice production. Unsellable black garlic fractions are used for functional foods, rich in antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins, supporting immunity and overall health. The enterprise creates seasonal jobs and promotes zero-waste, sustainable food production.

Microbe Plus offers advanced biological solutions that strengthen crops against pathogens and environmental stress, supporting greener, climate-resilient agriculture. Its products consist of carefully selected beneficial microorganisms that enhance soil health, nutrient uptake, and plant resilience. By replacing synthetic agrochemicals, Microbe Plus reduces CO₂ emissions by up to 50% per hectare. Through rigorous testing and innovative fermentation, the company develops multi-strain formulations that boost crop quality and yield, contributing to sustainable, high-performing farming systems.

Aguas de los Mallos, a spa hotel founded by a local farming family in 2011, sought to reduce rising heating costs by adopting bioenergy. With abundant straw from their cereal farms, they initially installed a modified woodchip boiler in 2014, but technical issues caused unstable operation. In 2019, after partnering with ACR ECOCALDERAS, they successfully implemented a 200 kW automated straw boiler, ensuring reliable and cost-effective heating. This innovation helped the hotel maintain low energy costs during the 2020-2022 energy crisis. Their experience demonstrates the potential of agricultural biomass for sustainable rural tourism heating solutions.

EcoCocon straw panels offer an innovative, natural wall system combining traditional materials with modern technology to deliver healthy, comfortable, and energy-efficient buildings. Composed of 98% renewable materials, the system is vapor-permeable, airtight, and free of thermal bridges, preventing drafts and mold while maintaining stable indoor temperatures year-round. Leveraging straw’s unique cellular structure, EcoCocon enhances insulation performance, facilitating compliance with Passivhaus standards. As a sustainable alternative rooted in centuries-old straw bale construction, this technology addresses today’s urgent need for eco-friendly building solutions.