IASIS aims at providing solutions for curing both contaminated and saline land through phytomanagement. Selected high-yielding, non-food (industrial) crops will provide biomass feedstock to develop intermediate and end bioproducts, following a cascading biorefinery approach, via economic-viable value chains. Farmers will have an active role on how to remediate the contaminated and/or saline soils while generating additional income by providing sustainable feedstock for non-food value-added applications. In order for the main and specific objectives to be fulfilled a total number of 6 work packages have been designed. The work starts with the crops’ optimisation (improved genotypes) and phytomanagement strategies (microbial consortia) development (WP1) for both contaminated and saline soils that will be tested and validated both in lab scale and in field case studies (FCSs). FCSs will be set up (WP2) in eight sites in Europe (4 contaminated and 4 saline), where 8 high-yielding, non-food (industrial) crops will be grown, following low-input and phytomanagement practices, to produce feedstock for the value chains and the bio-products development (WP3) as well as to engage and train the farming community (WP2). Two main groups of bioproducts will be developed (WP3) based on the type of industrial crops exploited (oilseeds and lignocellulosic) and in total 10 intermediate and 10 end-products will be developed and tested. Sustainability and feasibility assessment will be carried out on the most promising biomass-to-products pathways (WP4). A Decision Support System, to assess the viability and the soil remediation of the proposed value chains, and applicable business models will be developed tailored to the IASIS needs that will be applied for the IASIS case studies but will be applicable beyond the project. The regulatory framework will be outlined, while policy recommendations will be proposed. WPs 5 & 6 are dedicated to project dissemination and coordination.

MIDAS aims to develop, evaluate and optimize sustainable low-ILUC feedstock by developing selected industrial crops and cropping systems on European marginal agricultural land in a climate-resilient and biodiversity-friendly way to support feasible bio-based value chains. Mapping of the actual and future marginal lands that may be certified as low-ILUC, including current and future expectations on soil erosion and water stress as well as biodiversity challenges and potentials, ecosystem services, and guidelines for enhancing co-benefits will improve understanding of the available marginal land for “low-ILUC” biomass production. Selected industrial crops, already adapted to marginal lands, will be optimized through modern biotechnology tools - particularly for water-use efficiency - and through tailored agronomic practices towards improved resource efficiency. Case studies of innovative farming systems (intercropping, agroforestry) established on marginal land at farm level will improve harvesting solutions, biodiversity data and guidelines while relevant actors (farming community, bio-based industry & academia) will be engaged through Regional Advisory Groups. From the produced biomass innovative bio-based products (biochemicals, composites, and elastomers) will be developed, following the biorefinery and the circular use concept. Potential biomass-to-product(s) pathways will be identified, leading to value chain/ web concepts that will be assessed for sustainability and will produce a multi-criteria tool for the design of sustainable bio-based value webs while enhancing regional biodiversity. Finally business plans to foster circularity at farm level by engaging the farming community, industrial actors and academia through the projects’ Case Studies will be developed. Moreover, through international cooperation (Brazil, Canada) on crops, cropping systems and bio based products MIDAS allows best practices exchange and contributes to win-win scenarios development.