Medellín universities to turn agricultural waste into biomaterials

Four universities in Medellín, together with Ruta N, are collaborating on a new innovation project that aims to transform agricultural waste from oranges, coconuts, bananas, and other crops into sustainable biomaterials.

The initiative involves CES University, Pontifical Bolivarian University, EAFIT University, and the University of Medellín, working in partnership through Ruta N’s FutuMed program. The project focuses on converting agro-industrial waste generated in the southern region of the Aburrá Valley into useful products such as fabrics, packaging materials, biofilms, and hydrogels for pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications.

The project is being carried out as part of the circular economy section of the Research Promotion initiative and is expected to continue for 18 months. Researchers are working on methods to convert both fibrous and non-fibrous biomass into bioproducts and biomaterials using technologies such as bacterial nanocellulose, biofilms, packaging pulp, and textile materials created from plant waste.

The project also aims to increase the technological readiness of these solutions and move them toward advanced validation stages. Current research activities include the design and construction of a separator and laminating machine, along with processes for extracting active compounds that may later be used in biomedical and cosmetic products.