EU Projects
Cloud Facturing
Our First EU Project — A year, Duration, Investments….
We are excited to be part of the Cloudi Facturing project team. Our mutual project proudly belongs to the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme.
We are working within a team of amazing collaborators – the legendary Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, In Silico (Robert Keser), Wikki Ltd, Ascalia (Dejan Strbad) – and are optimizing the capsule production process using high-fidelity digital twins and Computer Fluid Dynamics simulations, supplemented by machine learning.
(Experiment 16 – Digital Twin for Optimal Encapsulation)
MAKABI
Small capsules for healhy plants and functional food
Duration of the project
Financed by
EU fondovi, HAMAG BICRO, Ministartsvo gospodarstva i održivog razvoja
Project Summary
One of the sources of climate change is the intensive use of agrochemicals in agricultural production. Because of their negative impact, it is necessary to develop new agroecological formulations for plant nutrition and protection that are based on the use of isolated microorganisms (fungi/bacteria) and chemical reagents that are in optimal proportions and show synergistic action. The formulations were created by the green chemistry process of encapsulation of bioactive components into formulations with a 3 in 1 effect (nutrition, protection and time release). It is a completely biodegradable product, the application of which achieves nutrition and protection of plant cultures, but also stimulates the production of secondary plant metabolites.
The main activities of the project
- preparation and characterization of new
- microcapsule formulations
- application of new formulations on selected
- plant cultivars on test fields
- patent protection
- employment
- dissemination
Schematic representation of the action of the formulation
Makabi Agritech - Sustainable Agriculture and Responsible Food Production
With their innovative approach in green chemistry and sustainable agricultural production, Makabi contributes to the reduction of environmental pollution, mitigates climate change and increases the biopotential of produced food. For these reasons Makabi Agritech was chosen as the ISC3 start-up of the month for November 2023.
What is the essence of Makabi´s innovative idea and its impact? The start-up developed a 3-in-1 “smart pill” for plants as a substitute for current fertilizers, which also contributes to soil and nature protection. The idea is to cut down the use of modern agrochemicals down by 30% and to help produce functional food.
The pill is created by the simultaneous synergetic and green encapsulation technology of both, microorganisms and chemical reagents. The product is fully biodegradable, as the capsule shell is formed by nature-derived biopolymer. The components of the pill are thereby protected from outer influences such as weather or temperature and immobilised, which allows for the survival of the contained microorganisms for several month.
The smart pill also presents a solution to the problem of pollution by the common excessive use of commercial fertilizers: It has a build-in time release mechanism of its bioactive components, so the plants can absorb them when needed, making the utilization of additional fertilizer obsolete.
Three questions for Marko Vincekovic, founder of Makabi
What led to your solution in Sustainable Chemistry?
Marko Vinceković:
Our product is the result of a six-year long research project at the faculty of agriculture of Zagreb University. This project was motivated by the current use of big amounts of chemical fertilizers in modern agriculture, which add to environmental pollution and affect human health. “If we have the smart pills for the humans, why can´t we do that for the plants?” was the original idea that led us to the creation of the Makabi’s 3-in-1 encapsulation technology.
What does being chosen as ISC3 Start-up of the Month mean to you?
Marko Vinceković:
It means a lot for us, because it is visibility and the visibility is everything – people will notice you and who knows, maybe some of these people will help you to increase your business and to make new formulations. By myself I can´t do a lot, but if were working together, we can make a change and make our world better.
What’s next up at Makabi?
Marko Vinceković:
We started with some new innovation projects that we should accomplish in the next 2 years. Also, we will apply for patents. We will start connecting with the industry partners to start the upscaling the production of formulations, which will be put on the market; also we would like to start new projects with those industry partners. Recently, Makabi Agritech was awarded the EU project “MAKABI – A small capsule for a healthier plant and functional food”. The project is co-financed by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.
ENCAPSULATION
Green technology that changes agricultural production
Encapsulation of bioactive components plays an important role in agricultural production because it can improve the stability, usability and efficiency of various bioactive components used in agriculture. There are several ways in which encapsulation can affect agricultural production and the preparation of functional foods:
Increases stability
Encapsulation enables the protection of sensitive bioactive components from external factors such as light, oxygen, moisture or temperature changes. This can increase the stability of these components during storage and transport, thereby ensuring their effectiveness when applied to agricultural crops.
More precise application
Encapsulated bioactive components can be more precisely applied to plants or soil. This approach allows for better dose control and targeting of specific areas, reducing the need for large volumes of agents.
Prolongs the release of nutrients
Encapsulated substances can have a controlled release, which means that the nutrients or pesticides released from the encapsulation can last longer. This extended release can reduce the need for frequent reapplications.
Reduces harmful effects
Encapsulation can help reduce negative impacts on the environment and health, as it reduces the risk of unnecessary spread of pesticides or other substances. Controlled release can also reduce the need for high concentrations of pesticides, which can minimize adverse effects on the environment.
Increases fertilizer efficiency
Encapsulation can also be used to improve fertilizer efficiency. This technology enables better control of nutrient release, reducing losses and increasing the availability of nutrients to plants.
Improves adaptation to specific conditions
Encapsulation can help adapt bioactive components to specific soil or climate conditions, thus increasing the adaptability of agricultural products to different environmental conditions.
Overall, the encapsulation of bioactive components can contribute to more sustainable and efficient agricultural production, reducing losses, improving control over the application of substances and minimizing negative effects on the environment and human health.
INFORMATIVE DAY – MAKABI AGRITECH
Within the project “Small Capsules for helathier plants and functional food” the Informative day will be held on 25.06.2024 at 10 00 am at Makabi Agritech Laboratories.
On June 25, 2024, starting at 10:00 a.m., the OPEN DAYS of the “Makabi – Small capsule for a healthy plant and functional food” project were held – during the open days, the methods of preparing microparticle formulations by the process of encapsulation of bioactive components into biopolymer microparticles with a 3in1 effect (nutrition, protection and time release) by the ionic gelation method. Interested participants had the opportunity to prepare “their own” formulations of microparticles, and applied them in test greenhouses to different lettuce and tomato cultivars.
Development of a calcium-based biofertilizer from eggshells for functional plant growth
Duration of the project
01.07.2025. – 30.06.2026.
Project Summary
The excessive use of synthetic fertilizers in agriculture leads to serious environmental and agronomic problems, such as soil degradation, environmental pollution, and health issues.
The project explores the potential use of food waste—eggshells—with the aim of extracting calcium ions, as well as the possibilities of encapsulating the optimized extract and preparing a formulation to develop a biofertilizer as a means of targeted nutrition for plant crops. This approach reduces the reliance on synthetic fertilizers and promotes environmentally friendly and sustainable agricultural production. The primary beneficiaries of the project will be agricultural enterprises, producers of healthy and functional food and biofertilizers, as well as end consumers of healthier food enriched with antioxidants.