BIOPRODUCTS FROM NATURE – High value added products from forest and agricultural sidestreams
BIO4P
Fossil or animal-derived raw materials can be replaced with extracts from by-products of the food and forestry industries. These products with transparent origin also hold promising export prospects.
Conifer needles, leftover berry press cakes from juice production, as well as coriander and caraway, contain valuable bioactive compounds. Natural waxes and oils, as well as phenolic compounds derived from these, can be used in high-value-added products such as cosmetics, food, and biomedical applications. Other promising applications include coatings for the packaging, paper, and textile industries, as well as various specialty chemicals. Currently, needles mostly remain at the harvesting site as logging residue. Berry press cakes are utilized to some extent in products like berry powders and jams, while most of the Finnish caraway and coriander production is exported in the form of seeds.
The BIO4P project aims to create favorable conditions for the production and commercialization of the mentioned extracts by focusing on:
• Analyzing the availability of raw materials and developing efficient supply chains.
• Identifying the best available conversion and separation technologies and optimizing the processes.
• Evaluating the techno-economic feasibility of selected applications.
• Assessment of potential market segments for new products.
• Strengthening the international network for the development of novel value-added products.
• Drafting preliminary business models.
• Building a business ecosystem for the efficient commercial exploitation of new products.
Natural Resources Institute Finland coordinates the BIO4P project funded by Business Finland, in which Aalto University and the University of Oulu are also involved. Lumene Oy and Caraway Finland Oy participate in the Co-Innovation project with their own product development projects. Fazer Makeiset Oy tests the developed raw materials in confectionery production. The research partners also collaborate with other companies, as well as foreign universities and research institutions.
In the project, the ecology and genetics unit and the centre for material analysis research infrastructure from the university of Oulu are involved.
Tuesday, October 21, 2025, 2:00 - 3:30 PM
Wild berries are more than superfoods — picking them in the forest not only gives you healthy exercise, but also unforgettable experiences in nature. But could these treasures hold even more untapped potential than we realize? Are they simply everyday foods we consume without any other uses? Join our webinar to discover how wild berries can inspire innovation and create new business.
