CBIO’s missions went global at COP30

CBIO, Centre for Circular Bioeconomy at Aarhus University, is in focus in a new short documentary that premiered at COP30 in Brazil. Produced by the World Bioenergy Association as part of the Bioenergy Horizons series in collaboration with BlackRook Media, the film highlights how interdisciplinary research and a strong focus on cascading biomass use can accelerate sustainable production.

In the documentary, Morten Ambye-Jensen, Head of CBIO and Associate Professor at the Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, together with colleagues from different departments at Aarhus University, presents CBIO’s approach to circular solutions.

They discuss what is required to create global, sustainable change across production systems - from developing new cropping strategies to understanding consumer behavior and engagement.

Collaboration is the core

Interdisciplinary collaboration is the core of CBIO’s mission. The centre brings together researchers, industry partners, and organizations to address full circular value chains combining food, feed, materials, chemicals and energy products, incorporating research on consumer behavior and environmental impact.

“If we are going to free ourselves from fossil-based fuels, energy, and materials, collaboration is essential,” says Morten Ambye-Jensen, and continues: “We need multiple perspectives to strengthen projects and ensure that our work has real societal impact.”

Green and blue biomasses for a circular future

A central theme in the documentary is the growing importance of sustainably sourced biomass - both on land and in the sea - as the foundation for a future biobased economy. By increasing photosynthetic activity across ecosystems, it is possible to produce more biogenic resources while improving land-use efficiency and reducing environmental impact.

“Perennial green crops remain photosynthetically active for long periods of the year,” explains Esben Øster Mortensen, postdoc at the Department of Agroecology, “and because they stay green for longer, they take up more CO₂, store more carbon in the soil, and provide more harvestable biomass. In this way, we can increase the amount of biogenic material available for the green transition without expanding agricultural land - and with environmental benefits.”

The ocean offers a parallel opportunity through blue biomass systems.

“Mussels and seaweeds are efficient marine crops,” says Annette Bruhn, senior researcher at the Department of Ecoscience and continues: “Seaweeds draw nutrients directly from seawater, while mussels filter phytoplankton, which itself captures nutrients. Cultivating and harvesting these crops allows us to remove excess nutrients from the marine environment and bring them back onto land, closing the loop between land and sea and increasing sustainable biomass production.” She adds: “One of the big challenges is the competition for space at sea. We need to identify the areas where we can achieve the highest biomass yields and the best possible ecosystem services.”

These land-based and marine strategies together strengthen CBIO’s efforts to scale up renewable resources for future biorefineries.

A world-leading chain of facilities driving the bioeconomy

A key strength of CBIO is its broad network combined with unique experimental facilities at AU Viborg, including HTL (hydrothermal liquefaction), a biogas plant, Power-to-X installations, a CO₂-to-protein plant, and the world’s largest green biorefinery demonstration platform. These facilities enable researchers to integrate mechanical, biological, chemical and thermal technologies and test new value chains on scale.

The green biorefinery platform, featured prominently in the documentary, processes green perennial biomass and blue biomass to create a variety of biobased products and materials. It plays a central role in many CBIO projects, extracting high-value proteins for food and feed while converting remaining fibres into materials and energy applications.

“In a future bioeconomy, everything we eat, wear, build, and use must come from sustainably sourced biomass. To achieve this, we need flexible, multipurpose biorefineries capable of producing several products simultaneously,” states Morten Ambye-Jensen.

Watch the Bioenergy Horizons Documentary Series with Aarhus University HERE

About CBIO

- The centre was founded in 2017

- CBIO consists of eight different departments and a center: BCE, FOOD, ANIVET, ECOS, ENVS, QGG, AGRO, and BSS (MAPP)

- It’s a network centre with 220+ AU-members and external collaborations (e.g. industry, start-ups, municipalities, organizations)

- CBIO focuses on making activities for members and others that initiate interdisciplinary projects and strengthen influence and visibility within national and global circular bioeconomy.

Contact

Head of CBIO

Morten Ambye-Jensen

maj@bce.au.dk