Apple biomass transformed into biodegradable innovations in REFAL hackathon

The event took place at REFAL’s facility near Sandomierz (Poland) on 24-25 April 2025. The hackathon was surrounded by blooming apple orchards, creating an inspiring scenery for innovation. The challenge focused on proposing innovative product and/or technological solutions to increase the value of apples that, despite being full-value products, are disqualified from direct sales due to skin or shape defects.

The winning team, Food4Future/DarOgrodu, presented innovative solutions to transform apple pomace into fully biodegradable biopolymers, utilizing biotransformation processes to convert biomass into succinic acid and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) through fermentation. “We expect open minded cooperation with the investor as it is a project with a great potential, at least to the to the European scale or even the global scale, but also connected, related with many risks that can occur during the process during reaching the goals” said the representatives from Food4Future/DarOgrodu.

REFAL representatives expressed enthusiasm for the hackathon’s outcomes. “I think this is a great idea, great concept. (…) in one place we can have like here in Refal – six different teams, different companies which were trying to give us some new ideas” said REFAL’s CEO. The company is also open to exploring partnerships with other teams, noting the high quality of solutions presented by the finalists.

The hackathon attracted four teams from Poland: Food4Future/DarOgrodu, AppCup, GI Konstrubowski and InHort. The international teams were Institut für Lebensmittel- und Umweltforschung (Germany) and Pomex (Finland/Netherlands). Each team brought unique perspectives, supported by ten mentors who provided expertise in technical, business, and sustainability domains. “It’s a nice concept. It’s about learning of real challenges and learning ideas of many people, it’s a networking event actually. For me it’s networking and I appreciate it very” concluded Daniel Pleissner from Institut für Lebensmittel- und Umweltforschung.

The REFAL Hackathon is part of the international BioBoosters project, led by JAMK University of Applied Sciences and co-funded by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme. The project unites nine innovation networks across Finland, Sweden, the Baltic States, Poland, and Germany to support circular economy practices in the bioeconomy sector through 18 hackathons. The event showcased the power of collaboration, with teams gaining new insights, contacts, and opportunities.

More information about the REFAL Hackathon

https://hackathon.procivis.org.pl/en/

More information

Anna Gajek, 41 345 32 71 ext.810, a.gajek@procivis.org.pl

Damian Kuznowicz, +48 600 435 424, d.kuznowicz@procivis.org.pl

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