The main objective of Newpower is to solve the problems associated with the high generation of agricultural and forest waste, which accumulate more and more due to the abandonment of the rural environment, and that cause a large number of fires. Newpower will create a network of collaboration between public and private organisations of the SUDOE space, seeking the sustainable management of this waste, developing new conversion processes, obtaining renewable energies and new products with high added value, which will imply socio-economic benefits and the creation of qualified jobs. The innovative character of Newpower is based on harnessing agricultural and forest waste in a comprehensive way, reusing it rather than eliminating it. Obtaining high added value ingredients will generate benefits for companies in the sector and lead to new lines of business. The project aims to obtain attractive biofunctional products to be used in food, pharmaceutical, biotechnology and organic farming industries. To achieve the objective it will be necessary to establish a strong transnational cooperation, where each entity contributes its knowledge in the different stages. Some will be involved in innovative and ecological processes for the extraction of value-added products based on a multi-product biorefinery in a circular economy context; others focused on characterisation and encapsulation of active compounds of interest; and others in the formulation of functional foods, nutraceuticals, smart packaging, natural plant protection products, biofuel production, bioplastics and platform chemicals. Finally, a technical-economic and environmental study of all the processes developed in Newpower will be carried out to study their industrial feasibility. The organisation of the civil society involved will play a key role in raising awareness and disseminating results, promoting sustainability, responsible consumption, healthy habits and diets and reducing waste, in order to achieve the well-being of society as a whole.
