Scotland’s experts on farmer co-ops and food industry collaboration, we work with food and farming businesses to make them more profitable, competitive, and sustainable - #workingtogether to shape the future, today.
All our work helps facilitate farmers and food and drink businesses to work together effectively. Over the years we've expanded and developed subsidiary businesses - getting the right people together and making innovative advancements - to help benefit food, farming and rural Scotland.
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Revalorisation of Agri Waste was one of the topics originally suggested to C2N by SAOS's co-op members. Webinars exploring the topic from different angles created further interest with additional co-ops and other partner organisations.
A range of activities followed, many of these achieved with the help of Scotland Food & Drink Partnership funding.
Highlights include:
Circular Economy Opportunity at Grampian Growers
An exciting collaborative project based at Grampian Growers has received funding, through InnovateUK, to explore the untapped potential of potato haulms for producing a high-value compound, Solanesol, used in the cosmeceutical, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries. The project, which involves SAOS, the James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen University and Alder Bio Insights, aims to address the global demand for more ethical and environmentally sustainable solanesol alternatives, traditionally derived from tobacco leaves. Read more here.
IBioIC - the Industrial Biology Innovation Centre
The C2Network has fielded multiple enquiries from external organisations looking to understand more about the waste types and volumes our co-ops generate. IBioIC has been a strong supporter of the C2Network since its inception and many initial introductions have been made across our networks, several of which have led to collaborative projects with our co-ops.
Through one such IBioIC introduction, C2N has collaborated with SilviBio, a start-up exploring the use of wool and other farm waste elements to replace peat in compost. Silvibio interacted with Angus Soft Fruits/Angus Growers on its Co-op Foundation application and trials using different recipes for peat free media are ongoing.
We have also introduced Silvibio to the Flowers Grown in Scotland collaborative group, where links were made for further possible collaborations for the development of additive materials from farm waste for mulching.
Waste valorisation, its contribution to the circular economy, and potential to help achieve farming's Net Zero targets continue to be of great interest. The range of engagements over the last three years highlight the potential contribution that co-ops can make to the circular economy through diversification opportunities associated with their waste streams.
We will be encouraging more co-op-inspired collaborative opportunities across our membership and exploring funding opportunities for bio-based innovations which are relevant and cost effective for SAOS's co-op members.