FIBRENAMICS AND INOVA WILL DEVELOP FIBRES FROM MILK

Fibrenamics, University of Minho’s R&D platform, and INOVA (Azores Institute for Technological Innovation), have just presented a research project that aims to develop a casein fibre from the Azores’ milk. The Milkfibre project will develop processes for obtaining and functionalizing milk fibres, for applications in the textile, food and health areas.

With a funding of 300 thousand euros from the Azores 2020, an estimated duration of three years and a team of 10 researchers, the Milkfibre project wants to develop casein fibres from non-food milk produced in the Azores, and its main goal is to apply the fibres obtained from milk waste in various areas, such as textiles, food, and health, among others.

“There is a huge potential yet to be discovered in these materials that play such an important role in the region’s economy. This is a new way of cherishing the milk sector, contributing to a more sustainable use of by-products, which can bring more value to the sector and to the so-called circular economy”, explains João Carlos Nunes, Scientific Director of INOVA.