CIRC4FooD
ESPA 2014-2020
Grant agreement no.Τ2ΕΔΚ-03899
A Circular Economy Inspired Food Production System


In General
The aim of the CIRC4FooD project is to study and develop agri-food systems inspired by the Circular Economy that combines composting and rainwater harvesting, while reducing the environmental footprint, and demonstrating them through carefully designed pilot test sites in the city of Trikala.
More Information
The linear nature of modern food production is estimated to cost $ 5.7 trillion. However, it is a form of production that is wasteful and in parallel polluting and damaging the physical system. At present, the agrifood industry is responsible for nearly a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions, degrading the natural resources that depend on it and contaminating air, water and soil. An equivalent of six garbage trucks is lost or discarded every second. In cities, less than 2% of valuable bio-constituents in food and organic waste are composted or otherwise used. Among the harmful effects of these methods are the diseases caused by atmospheric pollution and water contamination, the effects of pesticide use on health and increased antimicrobial resistance.
A solution to the above problem is proposed by CIRC4FooD with an integrated system for urban vegetable gardens, inspired by the circular economy:
- A rain water, harvesting and storing system that controls and forwards water to plants according to their needs.
- A built-up small garden, which will contain a surface on which the crops can be cultivated.
- A built-in composting bin, which accepts plant debris and proceeds to aerobic composting. In particular, the bin will be able to mix residues and additives which can enter the bin to optimize the process.
- An intelligent garden and compost management system, which will include an on-line monitoring platform for the above systems incorporating various IoT technologies (humidity and air temperature sensors, compost, humidity, water level, etc.).
The system will be developed in various sizes and forms, with the aim of maximizing acceptance and commercialization of the system at the end of the project:
- A system for domestic use will be developed, combining rainwater collection, a domestic / urban vegetable garden, but also a part of composting the organic remains of the vegetable gardens.
- A larger system will be placed in a school in the city of Trikala.
- Development of municipal gardens in the city centre in the form of portable gardens and replanting of existing gardens in the city centre.
The "precision agriculture" technology will be used in all three points of interest, will guide the end users (citizens) about the needs of the garden, compost and water collection system. Finally, the proposed solution, developed within CIRC4FooD, is a solution that can be placed on a number of growing markets, thus opportunities for commercial exploitation both in public use (municipal vegetable gardens) as well as in private use will be explored.
AGENSO Contribution
AGENSO is the Systems Development Leader (WP2), being the responsible entity for the implementation of a circular domesticated system as well as of public vegetable gardens in the city centre and at the same time will take an active role as the Leader too in Future Improvements of the Project (WP5).
Additionally, AGENSO participates in the design of the proposed systems (WP1) in the implementation of technical description of the developing systems, in the Pilotic testing sites (WP3) and in the the Evaluation of results and System Improvement (WP4).
Circ4FooD Basics
Economic Impact
Reduction of the water coming from the supply network, while reducing the work time needed and increasing productivityIncreased Production
Boost of the produced vegetablesSocietal Impact
Wider adoption of the principles of urban farming and recyclingWaste Reduction
20% decrease of the rubbish quantity sent in trash cansProject Funding
- Starting date : 29/10/2020
- Duration : 24 Months
- Status : Running
- AGENSO participation type: Coordinator
- Co‐financed by the European Union and Greek national funds through the Operational Program Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, under the call RESEARCH – CREATE - INNOVATE (project code: Τ2ΕΔΚ-03899)
integrated system for urban vegetable gardens
partners
scientific publications
new researchers funded
% savings from commercial pesticides use
Circ4FooD Main Tasks
AGENSO will design and implement a circular household system, as well as the urban vegetable gardens in the town center.
The activities include a results expansion analysis and proposed business plans, as well as communication and dissemination plan and tools.
News Related to the Project

Participation in “Water management projects, Agriculture, Environment” meeting
In the meeting entitled "Water management projects, Agriculture, Environment" held in the framework of the AgroThessaly Exhibition, the strong concern...

User information and training seminar for CIRC4FooD platform
With the completion of the pilot test installation for the CIRC4FooD project in the Municipality of Trikala, the project partners...

Progress of CIRC4FooD Vegetable Gardens
The progress of the vegetable gardens for the CIRC4FooD project is impressive! From the beginning of the installation (April 2022)...
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