How can agricultural inputs be delivered efficiently while reducing the use of non-biodegradable materials? The European BioCordelia project brings together research, industry and agricultural partners to investigate lignocellulose-based alternatives for controlled-release fertilisers.
Controlled-release fertilisers (CRFs) are designed to release nutrients progressively over time, helping to improve nutrient use efficiency and reduce leaching. However, many commercial CRFs currently rely on polymer coatings made from non-biodegradable materials, leading to microplastic pollution. BioCordelia is investigating a different approach using lignocellulosic materials derived from underutilised agricultural and forest industry side streams to develop bio-based and biodegradable delivery systems.
Launched in June 2026, the 42-month European research and innovation project brings together ten partners from six countries, combining expertise in biomass fractionation, material development, fertilisers, encapsulation, biodegradability, soil health, sustainability assessment, agriculture and knowledge transfer.
From biomass side streams to controlled nutrient release
BioCordelia will investigate underutilised lignocellulosic side streams from the agricultural and forest industries as potential sources of lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose. Suitable biomass sources will be assessed and selected during the project based on their properties and potential for further processing.
These lignocellulosic components will be extracted, processed and modified to investigate how their properties can be tailored for use in controlled-release systems.
The project will develop and test two complementary approaches:
- Bio-matrix systems, in which lignocellulosic materials are incorporated into granular fertilisers, targeting controlled nutrient release for up to two months.
- Bio-coating systems, in which lignocellulose-based formulations are applied as biodegradable coatings around fertiliser granules, targeting release periods of up to eight months.
The most promising formulations will undergo further testing and scale-up during the project. Their physical properties, nutrient-release behaviour and biodegradability will be assessed alongside their effects on soil and plant health.
Testing beyond the laboratory
BioCordelia will not focus on technical performance alone. Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) principles will guide development throughout the project, including assessments of human and environmental safety and the wider sustainability of the materials and processes developed.
Selected solutions will also progress to small-scale field trials in Spain and Belgium, using different crops and growing conditions to assess their agronomic performance.
Stakeholders will be involved throughout the project through a multi-actor approach, bringing perspectives from farmers, agricultural experts, biomass suppliers, industry, research organisations, certification and regulatory experts, and environmental actors into the development and validation process.
BioCordelia runs from June 2026 to November 2029 and is supported by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) and its members.
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Funding declaration
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CBE JU. Neither the European Union nor the CBE JU can be held responsible for them.