BIOBIOWA

The BIOBIOWA project officially kicks off — "Obtaining biochar for biomedical applications with an eco-friendly technology to harness the potential of agricultural waste." The inaugural conference will be held on July 2nd at 9:30 AM at the Congress Centre of the Policlinico G. Martino in Messina, marking the beginning of an innovative initiative that brings together environmental sustainability, scientific research, and industrial applications.

BIOBIOWA aims to transform agri-food chain waste into biochar, a high value-added carbonaceous material, through a green, low-energy-impact process. Biochar, known for its sorbent and regenerative properties, will be studied not only for agricultural and environmental uses (soil remediation, organic farming), but also for advanced applications in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic sectors, thanks to its ability to carry pharmacologically active substances.

The project, coordinated by Prof. Alessandra Bitto of the BIOMORF Department and funded through Interreg VI Italy-Malta funds, is the result of a cross-border collaboration between the University of Messina (UniMe), the University of Malta (UniMalta), and the private company Sialab srl of Avola (SR). UniMe will contribute its expertise in the biochar production process, while UniMalta will handle the chemical characterisation of the material to identify its potential applications. Sialab will carry out quality chemical analyses to ensure the safety of biochar in sensitive fields such as the biomedical one.

The conference will be attended by the Managing Authority of the Sicily Region responsible for the Interreg VI project, as well as several local companies. It will be an opportunity to publicly present the project, its partners, and its strategic objectives, with a view to valorising agricultural waste and promoting a truly circular and sustainable agriculture.