In the fourth edition of our partner interview series, we introduce Agricultural Research Ltd., a Czech applied research organisation with over 30 years of experience in sustainable agriculture, plant breeding and soil health. Discover how their expertise in biomass characterisation and agricultural residues contributes to developing innovative bio-based materials, strengthening circular value chains and turning agricultural waste into valuable resources.
Q: Can you briefly introduce your organization and its main area of expertise?
A: Agricultural Research Ltd. is a Czech applied research organization with more than 30 years of experience in sustainable agriculture, forage crop research, plant breeding, soil health, and the conservation of plant genetic resources. Our multidisciplinary teams combine expertise in agronomy, biotechnology, molecular biology, soil science, and laboratory analyses. We bridge scientific research with agricultural practice by developing innovative solutions that improve crop resilience, biodiversity, and the sustainable use of natural resources.
Q: What role does your team play within the EMBEDED project?
A: Our team contributes scientific expertise in biomass characterization, laboratory analyses, and the evaluation of agricultural residues suitable for circular bio-based value chains. We support the project by assessing the quality, composition, and potential applications of biological materials while ensuring that research results are scientifically robust and relevant for industrial implementation.
Q: How does EMBEDED align with your organization’s broader goals or sustainability strategy?
A: EMBEDED strongly supports our long-term mission of promoting sustainable agriculture through innovation. Our organization has always focused on increasing resource efficiency, improving soil health, preserving biodiversity, and reducing environmental impacts. Developing high-value applications for agricultural residues perfectly complements our strategy of transforming biological waste into valuable resources within a circular bioeconomy.
Q: What type of residues or processes are you most involved with in this project?
A: We primarily focus on agricultural biomass and crop residues originating from field production. Thanks to our expertise in forage crops, cover crops, and alternative plant species, we evaluate biomass properties, quality parameters, and suitability for innovative bio-based materials and products. Our work includes both laboratory characterization and the assessment of sustainable production systems.
Q: What impact do you expect EMBEDED to have at regional or European level?
A: We believe EMBEDED will demonstrate that agricultural residues should no longer be considered waste but valuable renewable resources. At the European level, the project can strengthen circular bioeconomy value chains, reduce dependence on fossil-based materials, and create new business opportunities for rural regions. Regionally, it can provide farmers and industry with practical solutions that generate additional value while improving environmental sustainability.
Q: What does the circular bioeconomy mean to you in practical terms?
A: For us, the circular bioeconomy means making the best possible use of every biological resource. It involves converting agricultural side streams into new materials, products, or bio-based chemicals while minimizing waste and preserving natural resources. As researchers, our role is to provide the scientific knowledge that enables these circular solutions to become technically feasible, economically viable, and environmentally beneficial.
Q: What kind of research or testing are you conducting as part of EMBEDED?
A: Our research focuses on the characterization of biomass, including its physical, chemical, and biological properties. We perform laboratory analyses that help determine the suitability of different agricultural feedstocks for bio-based applications. Our expertise also includes evaluating biomass quality, optimizing cultivation systems, and generating reliable scientific data to support technology development.
Q: How do you collaborate with industrial partners in scaling your findings to real applications?
A: Applied research is at the core of our organization, so close collaboration with industry has always been essential. Within EMBEDED, we work closely with industrial partners by providing scientific evidence, validating biomass quality, and adapting research activities to practical industrial requirements. This continuous exchange helps ensure that laboratory findings can be translated into scalable, commercially relevant technologies.
Q: What makes EMBEDED scientifically innovative compared to other EU bioeconomy projects?
A: One of EMBEDED’s greatest strengths is its interdisciplinary approach, combining expertise from agriculture, biotechnology, materials science, engineering, and industry. Rather than focusing on a single technology, the project develops integrated value chains that maximize the utilization of agricultural biomass. Our contribution is to ensure that these innovations are supported by rigorous scientific validation and high-quality biological characterization.
Q: What are the main challenges in characterizing or validating the biomaterials developed in the project?
A: Agricultural biomass is naturally variable because its properties depend on plant species, cultivation practices, environmental conditions, and harvest timing. One of the key scientific challenges is producing reliable, reproducible data despite this variability. Another challenge is establishing standardized analytical methods that allow consistent quality assessment and facilitate industrial adoption of new bio-based materials.
Q: How do you plan to transfer research results beyond the project — to students, industry, or policy?
A: Knowledge transfer has always been one of our organization’s core missions. We will disseminate EMBEDED results through scientific publications, conferences, demonstration events, workshops, training activities, and direct cooperation with farmers, industrial partners, and policymakers. Our long-standing links with agricultural practice and education enable us to ensure that research outcomes reach end users and contribute to the wider adoption of sustainable bioeconomy solutions.
