Innovative nature-based solutions to reduce environmental pollution

The presence of pollution in water and soil poses multiple risks to human, animal, and ecosystem health, contributing to diseases and biodiversity loss.

The EU-funded SYMBIOREM project (Symbiotic, circular bioremediation systems and biotechnology solutions for improved environmental, economic and social sustainability in pollution control) aims to use the bioremediation capabilities of microorganisms, microbiomes, proteins, plants and animals to remove pollution from the environment.

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At a glance

Programme:
European Union’s Horizon Europe

Type of action:
Research and Innovation Actions

Topic: Environmental services:
Improved bioremediation and revitalization strategies for soil, sediments and water

Duration:
4 years

Coordinator:
University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU)

Consortium:
17 partners from 10 countries

Total budget:
€ 4.7million

Find more information on:
cordis.europa.eu

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

12 novel bio-based technologies and strategies

SYMBIOREM will develop 12 innovative nature-based solutions to target the four most common pollutants in soil and water in Europe: heavy metals, mineral oil, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) and Volatile Aromatic Hydrocarbons (VAH). The project will also focus on mixed contamination, eutrophication, organic micropollutants and microplastic.

These solutions will be tested in five archetypes of contaminated environments (industrial brownfields, mixed solid waste landfills, urban diffuse pollution of surface water bodies, agricultural drainage, and marine sediments) in 9 locations

Azkoitia (Spain)
Baracaldo (Spain)
Lower Austria
Wroclaw (Poland)
Jata (Bizkaia, Spain)
Wroclaw (Poland)
Thamesmead (UK)
Lake Neusiedl (Austria)
Central Valley California (USA)
Baltic Sea (Stockholm Archipelago, Sweden)