On Wednesday, 3 December, Inpralsa (GBfoods España) carried out the sowing of chamomile on the SustaiNext project’s demonstration plot in Pueblonuevo de Miramontes, located in Extremadura in western Spain. This is the very same plot where BIOMASA PENINSULAR S.A. is currently conducting its trial on soil improvers, aimed at restoring soil vitality and supporting more sustainable farming practices.
Chamomile is one of three medicinal and aromatic crops—alongside rosemary and lemon verbena—now being cultivated on former tobacco fields in the region. These fields, once part of a declining tobacco sector, are being repurposed to test healthier, climate-resilient alternatives that can offer both environmental and economic benefits to local farmers. The initiative reflects SustaiNext’s commitment to promoting agricultural transition in areas that have long depended on traditional monocultures.
Today, on World Soil Day (5 December), we take the opportunity to highlight the broader purpose behind these efforts. All feedstocks obtained within the project will:
♻️ contribute to the development of 12 valorisation routes, designed to make full use of plant biomass,
🌱 leading to the creation of 46 plant-based healthy extracts and functional ingredients,
✨ including 13 that are entirely new to the market,
🌍 and 12 that will be produced in Europe for the very first time.
Through these initiatives, SustaiNext continues to demonstrate how sustainable agriculture, innovation, and responsible land use can work hand in hand to support both people and the planet.
