The SustaiNext project has just held its fifth General Assembly in Turin (Italy) from 19 to 20 November. With 30 months of hard work behind them, the consortium has now moved past the halfway mark with remarkable momentum across all teams:
🏗️ The construction of the flagship plant in Hervás (Spain) is powering ahead, with several new sections already entering the final stages before operations begin.
🌱 On the cultivation and biomass pre-treatment front, significant progress has been made in harvesting and storing the medicinal plants at the heart of the project, as well as in planting activities at Endesa’s photovoltaic site and across the project’s various plots—often against challenging weather conditions.
📦 Meanwhile, the teams refining the DYANA biorefinery model and those shaping the project’s wide-ranging commercial applications are taking giant strides. They’re gradually moving beyond testing phases, market studies and the classic trial-and-error cycle, into a stage defined by promising data, and even production and early commercialisation.
📰 As results begin to surface, dissemination and communication efforts are gaining real substance. This period has also seen the publication of the project’s first scientific paper, steady media presence, and strong engagement and support from stakeholders, particularly at the local level.
Looking ahead, the next six months offer exciting opportunities for synergy with other European projects and initiatives—setting the stage for an even more results-driven chapter of the SustaiNext project’s journey.
Visit to Candioli Pharma and UniversitĂ degli Studi di Torino
The entire consortium travelled to the Piedmontese city — home to two of our partners, Candioli Pharma and Università degli Studi di Torino — to share the progress made over the past six months and to shape the roadmap for the months ahead.
One of the most enriching moments of the opening day was the visit to the facilities of Candioli Pharma, an Italian company with more than 140 years of history and a strong commitment to innovation. Candioli Pharma is a leading manufacturer of preventive and protective health products for both human and veterinary use.
Over the years, it has broadened its areas of expertise, introducing highly innovative solutions for the pet market — spanning pets, ornithology, and sport horses — while continuing to develop flagship products such as MOM, its well-known antiparasitic treatment for human use.
Another standout moment of the 5th General Assembly of the SustaiNext project was the visit to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the UniversitĂ degli Studi di Torino.
The consortium had the opportunity to explore the facilities of the world’s fourth-oldest veterinary school – a true landmark in the field. The visit included a fascinating museum showcasing the faculty’s history, a fully operational veterinary hospital, a working farm, and an array of laboratories and teaching rooms that highlight the breadth and depth of the work carried out there.
It was a remarkable opportunity to get to know one of the partners focused on the pet market — dogs and cats within WP4 (High-value applications in the global market) — while discovering an environment that blends tradition, innovation and a genuine passion for knowledge.
These visits offer the consortium a valuable opportunity to gain first-hand insight into the work, challenges, and innovations of our industrial and academic partners, strengthening collaboration and grounding the project’s vision in real-world practice.
