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2008, February 6   Valagro on the horticulture market     Nestled in a corner of the Poitiers University campus, the research and development center named Valagro is specialized in the non-alimentary valorization of agro-resources. One of its most recent innovations is the biodegradable flower pot, which is due to be commercialized in late 2008. A minor revolution is underway in the horticulture sphere with the arrival of a flower pot of controlled life expectancy. As of late 2008, consumers will be able to purchase their plants in classic pots that shall progressively decompose once they are underground. This innovation is the upshot of cooperative efforts involving the agro-material pole of Valagro along with several companies: FuturaMat, Alliance 47 and Géniflore, human-scale businesses that ensure the production of raw material and its commercialization. “This is one of its kind in Europe. According to an Alliance 47 estimate, out of the 20 billion classical horticultural pots produced throughout the world year in and year out, a market to the tune of a billion pots stemming from natural resources could be reached”, states an enthusiastic Cédric Dever, the research engineer in charge of the platform’s “polymer chemistry” pole. And agro-fuels as well This latest innovation crowns fifteen years of efforts pertaining to the valorization of agricultural products. As of today, the Valagro association brings together thirty researchers dealing with three major themes the latest of which, lignocellulose chemistry, consists in valorizing the following interrelated products: husks, seed covers and waste products derived from the production of wood. As for the engineers of the oleo-chemistry pole, they have been developing new ways of extracting and purifying oil; such endeavors are highly appreciated in the industries of lubrication and cosmetics. Once upon a time, Valagro distinguished itself through its research in the field of agro-fuels from vegetable oils. Nowadays, scientists are at work on a second-generation agro-fuel. Over the weeks to come, this new procedure will lead to the creation in La Rochelle of a “green” fuel production unit. Contact: 05 49 45 48 83 The Biopole en masse at Eurobio 2008 Read ...   Water information days (September 23 – September 25) Read ...   The rose and its genetic transformation Read ...   Christian Huyghe aims for “excellence” read...   Creating “medical branches” read...   A neuro-cardio-vascular pole is taking root read...   Valagro on the horticulture market read...   ERM, the winning spin-off read...   GMOs under debate in Poitiers read...   Isabelle Cameleyre, new representative read...   Cystic fibrosis: The molecule of hope read...   Irfaq, a manufacturer of innovations read...   CHU: State-of-the-art quality read...   Soil organic matter under examination read...   Parexel: The Cap provides its support read...   Philippe Michonneau: “The Biopole, fertile soil” read...   Painless monitoring of hepatitis read...   The Biopole structured as an association read...   Futuramat steps up the pace read...   Technova, or life in 3D read...   B Braun burnishes its image read...   Proteomics platform: The CHU strides ahead read...   The three missions of the University Botanical Garden read...   Clinsight in the big leagues read...   Natural energies for an autonomous building read...   Aster-Cephac turns into SGS Cephac read...   The previously unseen heart read...   BIOalternatives diversifies its markets read...   Two Poitiers-based projects awarded read...   IUT pores over biofuels read...   Poitiers, the biotechnology capital read...   PAREXEL wagers on the human factor read...   Saunier and associates wish to diversify read...   Biocydex and BioXtract move forward hand in hand read...   The grass of champions read...   Ianesco steadfastly believes in its future read...   A tumorotheque, what is the purpose it serves? read...   TechnAvOx has turned the corner read...   Larime is aiming for 40 beds in Poitiers read...   Poitiers is out to promote its research read...   A true Biopole milestone read...   A regional cancerology pole in the pipeline for 2007 read...   Nobel prize winners in Poitiers read...   A platform offering numerous advantages read...   @rtMolecule fashions in its own way read...   It’s plastic, it’s fantastic read...   The Poitiers hospital (CHU) stakes its claim read...   BIOalternatives exports its know-how read...   The physiological and computer science engineering program turns 30 read...   The Biopole takes center stage at Investiga read...           Legal mentions