DAFNAE's Agri-E project placed third at the StartCup Padova 2024
21.10.2024
The Agri-E project, led by Lorenzo Favaro, Ameya Pankaj Gupte, Rosemary Cripwell, and Rebecca My, has secured third place at the StartCup Padova 2024. This business model competition, organized by the University of Padua, is designed to guide research groups through a structured training program that acts as an incubator for turning research ideas into innovative startups.
Agri-E provided an innovative approach to transforming rice waste into sustainable bioethanol. Using an advanced fermentation process known as Consolidated BioProcessing (CBP), and yeast strains developed in collaboration with the Universities of Padua and Stellenbosch (South Africa), the project aims to address the economic impact that climate change has on rice mills by converting waste into a valuable fuel.
Agri-E's solution reduces bioethanol production costs by up to 30% and helps promote energy self-sufficiency for Italian farms, aiming to replace a portion of the 3 billion liters of diesel consumed annually in the agriculture sector. Having completed successful laboratory trials (TRL 4), Agri-E has already secured investment for a Proof of Concept (PoC) from Cassa Depositi e Prestiti. The team is now focused on implementing the technology directly in rice mills, creating a circular, sustainable energy system for the rice industry.