Whether materials, energy or chemicals, virtually all production gives rise to some form of residual flows that need to be managed. Higher demands on circularity mean that more producers need to see the value and take care of residual flows in the best possible way. The project brings together industry, research institutes, and stakeholders in agriculture, forestry and marine management to explore opportunities to integrate and optimize our natural resources for a sustainable future.

The aim of this feasibility study is to

• Explore opportunities to collaborate in land, forest and marine industrial activities with a focus on bioresource circularity within the blue-green cycle. 
• Identify and initiate discussions with interested parties on both sides of the border in the local community, industry and academia, where access to residual streams and/or technology exists to further close the cycles and contribute to a lower environmental footprint. 
• Investigate conditions for cooperation and knowledge transfer with upper secondary school and vocational programs in bioeconomy 

Final report 

The feasibility study has provided a fruitful basis for understanding the residual flows and needs on both sides of the border in the blue-green cycle. There has been great interest among various stakeholders, from the agricultural side, the forestry industry, the aquaculture industry, as well as in teaching and academic institutions and green industry sites, which work with industrial symbiosis. The desire to collaborate further to learn from each other and find forms of cooperation between industrial sites is high, which shows that the circular is a highly topical subject where the endeavour to be part of the blue-green transition is strong in the regions. The project has illustrated that there is a clear synergistic added value of working across the border regions on nutrient flows and carbon flows, but also highlighted difficulties regarding differences in national / EU regulations for nutrient recycling of fish sludge, logistics for residual stream management and getting techno-economically sustainable value chains.

The number, and size, of land-based solar parks has increased intensively the last years in Sweden. This development can contribute to the green transition, while at the same time compete with other public interests such as agriculture and food production. Internationally, so called agrivoltaics systems where agriculture and solar energy production is combined have gained increasing interest, and numerous agrivoltaics systems have been implemented in EU and other parts of the world. In Sweden, there are so far only a few agrivoltaic systems, where e.g. sheeps are grazing and fodder grass are harvested. Hence, there are large knowledge gaps on the potential for agrivoltaics in Nordic conditions - such as suitable crops, design choices to optimize the light conditions, business models that promote farmers, landowners and solar energy stakeholders, as well as legislative aspects.

In this project - coordinated by Skåne Regional Council - we will design and install a physical test facility, in order to examine and demonstrate how agriculture and solar power production can be combined in Scanian conditions. Additionally, the project will investigate suitable crops, technical and design aspects, as well as other vital aspects such as profitability, business models and policies/regulations. An essential part of the project will be to demonstrate, create and share knowledge to relevant stakeholders. The project will be performed in broad collaboration with representatives from academia, industry and the public sector.

RISE is providing the project expertise in both policy/regulations and agriculture, as well as leading the work package on regulations and business models.

Project objectives

• Gain knowledge about crops suitable for agrivoltaics, and how agrivoltaic systems should optimally be designed
• Gain knowledge about economic aspects within agrivoltaic systems, in comparison to conventional cropland and solar parks
• Gain knowledge about how national and international policies, regulations and subsidies impact the possibilites for agrivoltaics, and what changes is needed to promote the development

Projekt participants

Skåne Regional Council is the project owner. Besides RISE, County Administrative Board (CAB) of Skåne, Energy Agency Southern Sweden, the Swedish University of Agricultural Science and Mälardalen University are project partners. Additional participants are The Federation of Swedish Farmers, Nordic Beet Research as well as the solar power companies SolarEdge and Alight.

The total project budget is approximately 20 million SEK, of which 8 million SEK is funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The remaining 12 million SEK is funded by the project organizations, of which 8.6 million SEK from CAB of Skåne.

The CIRCULAIR project addresses these challenges by developing an advanced biomass conversion pathway for cost-effective fuel production from abundant agricultural residues through hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL). CIRCULAIR’s key innovations cover the entire process chain from feedstock to final fuels and by-products. 

Manures and straw were chosen as feedstocks, due to their abundance in agriculture and potential synergy effects in the co-liquefaction of these feedstocks. CIRCULAIR investigates the co-liquefaction phenomenon and aims at solving the process water challenge of HTL by closely integrating HTL conversion with wet oxidation of HTL process waters. Biomass resource utilisation will be maximised by developing suitable valorisation schemes for all relevant side streams. In particular, volatile fatty acids will be extracted from HTL process waters and methanol will be synthesised using CO₂ from effluent gas streams and renewable hydrogen. CIRCULAIR will fill a knowledge gap regarding the use of HTL chars for soil application, thereby creating a negative contribution to the carbon footprint.

In addition, CIRCULAIR will develop innovative approaches to upgrade HTL biocrudes to on-specification jet fuel and thereby prepare the approval process of HTL jet fuel for civil aviation. RISE takes part in this work package by investigating the upgrading of HTL biocrude using slurry hydro-treatment process.

We currently eat twice as much meat as we need. Meat production produces large amounts of greenhouse gases which contribute to global warming. We use 70% of the arable land for feed instead of for food. Over-consumption of meat also has detrimental health effects.

Protein from oat, pea and hemp is converted from flour by adding water, and heating the mixture during strong mixing in an extruder. You can also add fat, salt and vegetables for an even better taste. The resulting product is tender pieces which can be fried or used in casseroles and pasta sauces. Our cullinary creator Paul Svensson uses his magic to develop novel meals and recipies. 

We also study cultivation of meat. Muscle cells from meat are cultivated in a medium where they multiply, but they need a support to grow on. Our protein products are perfectly suited for this and we investigate how to cultivate the cells in the best way. The cultivated meat is still far from products found on the shelves, but may in the long run give even tastier, healthier and more environmentally friendly products.

What is the Knowledge Hub for Animal Production?

The Knowledge Hub for Animal Production was established in 2023 on behalf of the government, with the aim of strengthening productivity, profitability and competitiveness in Swedish animal production. The hub will compile current research and make it available to farmers and their advisors in a web-based knowledge database, and will play an active role in disseminating knowledge to farms and advisory companies.

The Knowledge Hub for Animal Production complements and supports the advisors already operating in the Swedish market. The hub will also analyse and compile the industry's needs in terms of new research and knowledge development, targeting universities and research funders.

By compiling, making available and disseminating knowledge to Swedish agriculture and its advisors, the hub contributes to increasing Swedish production capacity, strengthening the competitiveness of Swedish livestock producers and reducing the vulnerability of Swedish food production. All while maintaining compliance with Swedish animal welfare legislation.

The Animal Production Knowledge Hub was established as an organisation within RISE – Research Institutes of Sweden in the spring of 2023. Since then, experts have been hired in pig production, cattle production, milk production and stable construction. There is also an expert in business economics, and recruitment is planned in sheep, poultry and egg production. In addition, the Knowledge Hub consists of an event coordinator, communicators, project managers and a manager. 

Analysis groups

To assist it, Navet is forming an analysis group within each animal species and subject area. This analysis group will contribute input on which areas and topics need to be covered, as well as analyse what knowledge needs to be developed to strengthen agriculture. 

Knowledge bank

The Agricultural Knowledge Bank, which collects knowledge on the web, was launched in April 2025. It will become the central hub where both farmers and advisors can find the latest research and relevant knowledge, written in a way that is accessible to the respective target groups. The Knowledge Bank has been developed in collaboration with advisory organisations in Sweden.