Valorisatielab

About Valorisatielab

VARTA (Valorisatielab Reststromen Tuin- en Akkerbouw) is a Dutch research and valorisation lab focused on plant-based rest streams from horticulture and agriculture. It works with growers and project partners to investigate what can be recovered from plant residues that would otherwise be discarded or composted, such as lower stem parts, rejected flowers, and other side streams.

The company combines laboratory research with practical, market-oriented development. Its work is aimed at turning plant materials into pilot products and product samples, with applications that can extend into food, cosmetics, paper, and other biobased uses. VARTA positions itself as a bridge between modern cultivation, scientific research, and viable business cases, with a strong emphasis on moving from idea to market introduction.

Core Values

• Practical market focus: VARTA emphasizes research that leads to market introduction, not research for its own sake. It prefers clear scopes, concrete questions, and outcomes that can support a business case.
• Circular use of plant materials: The lab aims to give plant residues a second life by extracting value from materials that would otherwise be wasted. This reflects a circular approach to agriculture and horticulture.
• Collaboration with growers: VARTA works closely with commissioning growers and other partners, building solutions together from the start. The company stresses low-threshold cooperation and direct alignment with the grower’s needs.
• Science grounded in practice: Its approach combines scientific investigation with hands-on cultivation knowledge and practical experimentation. That mix is meant to keep projects relevant, feasible, and ready for real-world use.

Unique Aspects

• Dedicated focus on horticultural and agricultural side streams: VARTA specializes in valorising plant residues from cultivation, including rejected flowers, stem parts, and other by-products that are often overlooked.
• Broad application horizon: The lab explores uses for recovered ingredients in multiple sectors, including food, cosmetics, paper, and other biobased applications, depending on the material and business case.
• Strong emphasis on pilot products: Rather than stopping at analysis, VARTA develops samples and pilot products to test whether a concept can be taken further with growers and market partners.
• Project experience across product types: Its website shows work ranging from herbal tea and hand disinfectant to natural personal-care products and valorisation studies, illustrating a versatile applied-research model.