European Circular Economy Alliance
Rovensa Next participates in BIO2 initiative to turn circular economy materials into agricultural innovation
Horizon Europe Consortium Launches On-Farm Validation Networks to Deliver Fully Circular Biofertilizers by 2029
In a major step to address the severe environmental and regulatory restrictions undermining conventional nitrogen and phosphorus inputs, Rovensa Next participates in BIO2 initiative to turn circular economy materials into agricultural innovation. Coordinated by Italy’s National Research Council (CNR) under a €6.4 million Horizon Europe grant, the project unites 20 international partners to upcycle underutilized resources, including marine byproducts and recycled nutrients. As the lead industrial development partner, Rovensa Next is spearheading the characterization, formulation, and commercial scaling of these prototypes. The joint venture is tracking a clear timeline to deploy at least two fully circular specialty biofertilizers by 2029, testing configurations across a multinational network of farmers cultivating wheat, potatoes, strawberries, and table grapes.
MADRID, SPAIN — June 24, 2026 — Rovensa Next, the global leader in biosolutions for agriculture, is participating in BIO2, a €6.4 million Horizon Europe project focused on developing next-generation bio-based fertilizers and microbial solutions from renewable and circular sources. As a key industrial R&D partner, Rovensa Next is contributing with formulations, testing, screening, and field-validation capabilities to help transform underused natural resources into scalable agricultural innovations, with at least two fully circular next-generation biofertilizers targeted for delivery by 2029.
BIO2 addresses one of agriculture’s key challenges: how to maintain productivity while reducing dependence on inputs that are increasingly under environmental or regulatory pressure, including conventional sources of nitrogen and phosphorus. Through this project, Rovensa Next is supporting the transformation of renewable and underused resources such as marine byproducts, recycled nutrients, and beneficial microorganisms to develop practical and scalable solutions for crop nutrition, although the project also targets plant and animal health.
“With BIO2, we aim to make a lasting impact on both organic and conventional farming. While supporting the EU Green Deal’s goal of 25% organic farmland by 2030, our ambition goes further — promoting agroecological principles, healthier soils, and reduced reliance on synthetic inputs,” said Dr. Alessio Adamiano, project coordinator at CNR. “The shift toward sustainable food systems can’t wait — and BIO2 is a concrete step forward.”
Launched in May 2025, BIO2 is a four-year project coordinated by the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) in Italy, which brings together 20 partners from eight countries, including universities, research institutes, farming organizations, and industrial companies. The initiative is co-developing and testing prototype solutions to help promising research move into real-world agricultural applications, in line with the European Union’s ambition to accelerate fair, healthy, and environmentally friendly food systems.
“BIO2 is a highly strategic project that relates directly to the European Union’s Farm to Fork objectives. It allows us to explore how circular materials and microbial solutions can be translated into practical applications, supporting more resilient and resource-efficient agriculture,” said José Nolasco, Head of Global R&D Bionutrition at Rovensa Next.
From EU Research to Field-Ready Solutions
Within the BIO2 architecture, Rovensa Next is closely involved in biofertilizer characterization, formulation, and industrial upscaling. In addition to the two complete specialty biofertilizers, the company is also supporting the development of at least one biocontrol solution and one animal health product with full field evaluation. To facilitate practical on-farm assessment, BIO2 has established localized farmer networks across Germany, Latvia, Italy, Norway, and Spain to evaluate these options under real growing conditions.
Internally, Rovensa Next has begun extensive greenhouse trials and detailed planning for field trials, screening prototype candidates provided by the scientific consortium. These trials evaluate varying application rates of specialty nitrogen and phosphorus inputs, microbial combinations, and soil versus foliar delivery strategies on commercial crops including wheat, potato, strawberry, and table grapes, gathering essential agronomic data to support future market registration pipelines.
“Agriculture urgently needs effective and sustainable alternatives that work in the field, not only in the laboratory. Through BIO2, we can work directly with growers and hard data to test circular bio-based solutions in real conditions,” added Camila Levy, Global R&D Program Manager at Rovensa Next.
About Rovensa Next
Rovensa Next is the global leader in biosolutions for agriculture, supporting distribution partners and growers with holistic solutions to increase profitability and maximize yield performance. With over 2,200 employees worldwide, the company operates a unified network of 39 R&D laboratories, excellence centers, and 12 advanced production plants, leveraging the integrated expertise of pioneering sustainable brands including Oro Agri, Cosmocel, and Tradecorp.
Strategic Market Context
The selection of an established agribusiness leader to scale public circular economy research underscores a critical macro trend where multinational manufacturers act as commercial bridges for laboratory-scale biological breakthroughs. As synthetic options face intensifying regulatory caps under the EU Green Deal, companies are securing biomass and microbial assets to secure future product pipelines. This long-term development strategy runs parallel to major commercial expansions across global input channels, such as Rovensa Next securing exclusive U.S. distribution rights for Novonesis plant health solutions to capture a surging $5.5 billion biologicals market, and Bayer and Aphea.Bio partnering to commercialize bioinsecticides from non-living microbial metabolites, illustrating an industry-wide prioritization of stable, scalable biological tools.
Rovensa Next S.A. — Global Corporate Communications
Madrid, Spain | Horizon Europe BIO2 Project Registry Briefing | June 2026 | rovensanext.com
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