In a circular economy, waste no longer exists. Circular economy also means redesigning systems and making them more sustainable (less input of energy, water and nutrients). The professorship Circular Entrepreneurship in Agrifood researches innovative cultivation methods in the agricultural sector that require much less input.
Examples include various cultivation systems that make it possible to produce circular food on salt water, such as aquaponics and hydroponics. In addition, research is being done on the cultivation of water lentils in a bulb hatchery outside the period that cut tulips are grown. Another research branch within this professorship is the valorisation of organic residual flows from both the primary sector and from the food industry. The term 'Agricycling' was created for this purpose. Here, the focus is first on preventing waste, then using the residual flows for human consumption and, finally, upgrading to feed and to circular fertilisers.
These projects come together in the CirKL Business Lab, the professorship's testing ground and experimentation space. Here, students can further develop their business ideas in theory and in practice.
