ARGONAUT: Leading the Way for Bio-Based Innovation

How Can We Calculate and Track the Environmental and Climate Impact of Bio-Based Products Using AI, Blockchain, and Digital Product Passports? 

Discover the ARGONAUT Project: The EU-Funded initiative that will equip producers with an AI-powered tool for environmental impact assessment. 

The ARGONAUT project, a pioneering initiative funded by the Horizon Europe programme, aims to develop an accessible, AI-powered tool (JASON) to calculate the environmental and climate impact of bio-based products across their entire lifecycle.

How Can ARGONAUT Support Sustainable Practices in Europe?

By delivering JASON, ARGONAUT enables producers to map production options, optimise resource use, and evaluate environmental impact with precision. Specifically, it empowers small and medium-sized producers to make informed, sustainable choices through reliable comparisons of different value chain options. Moreover, the tool integrates advanced technologies, including AI, blockchain, and digital passports, bridging existing technological gaps and promoting sustainability across the bio-based industry.

This innovative software will be designed to collect, process, and analyse large datasets on bio-based product systems and processes, enabling informed and sustainable decision-making. It integrates blockchain technology to ensure secure tracking and will provide a “digital passport” for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), helping them make more sustainable choices.

The project’s solutions will be validated across six bio-based value chains, grouped into two categories:

• Biomaterial and Biochemical Value Chains:
  These include biopolymers derived from agricultural by-products, biomethane from organic fraction of municipal solid waste and sewage sludge, and nutraceutical products from agricultural by-products
• Agro-Food Value Chains:
  These include wheat-based flour, grass biorefinery and its products, sauces and organic fertilisers from vegetable waste.

This strategic focus allows ARGONAUT to address key industries, demonstrating the potential of bio-based solutions to advance circular economy practices and reduce environmental impacts.

Setting the Stage for Bio-Based Innovation

The project officially commenced on January 1, 2025, and the consortium meeting on January 15-16, 2025, in Athens, Greece, brought together nine partners from six European countries, with extensive expertise in AI, blockchain, life cycle assessment (LCA), communication strategies, and stakeholder engagement. This diverse partnership ensures a multidisciplinary approach to achieving ARGONAUT’s mission.

Thanos Balafoutis, the project coordinator, from the Institute for Bio-economy and Agri-technology iBO/CERTH emphasised:

“Assessing the environmental and climate impact of bio-based products is vital to reducing reliance on non-renewable resources, mitigating environmental impacts, and promoting circular economy principles. With accurate assessments, bio-based products can truly deliver on their promise of lower carbon footprints, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and greater sustainability.” 

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