In Groningen, ISPT is shaping the agricultural landscape: a circular system that brings sustainability, nature, healthy food and positive economic impact together. This program is called Fascinating.
Fascinating is an open innovation platform that connects farmers with industry, knowledge institutes and governments. The main goal of this program is to realize a circular agricultural system that supports a healthy diet, is balanced with nature and helps a farmers business model thrive.
The four pillars of Fascinating
With Fascinating, we are building new value chains. The agriculture of the future produces high-quality, nutrient-rich crops, operates sustainably and circularly, cultivates healthy soils, and strengthens farmers’ earning potential.
To achieve this, the Fascinating program focuses on four key challenges:
1. Healthy and Balanced Nutrition
We are shifting the focus from quantity to quality. How do we translate a healthy diet into our agricultural system? What are consumer expectations?
2. Sustainable Production of Nutritional Crops
We define quality in terms of both nutritional value and economic viability. How can we align food production with nature, without CO₂ or nitrogen emissions?
3. Energy-Efficient and Sustainable Processing
Current processing methods lead to a significant loss of nutrients. By upgrading existing technologies and developing new ones, we aim to retain these essential nutrients.
4. Utilising Residual Streams
After processing agricultural products, residual streams remain—such as cellulose, soil, and manure—that are unsuitable for human or animal consumption. We will use these streams in a circular way: as feedstock for the chemical industry or as an energy source.
