Bulgaria’s lavender industry is best known for its essential oil, but distillation is not the end of the story. Every batch of oil leaves behind a large volume of residual plant biomass, and that biomass still holds compounds worth recovering rather than compounds worth discarding.
The idea is straightforward: take a byproduct that would otherwise be discarded and put it through the same kind of scientific development pathway used for any promising bioresource.
Идеята е проста: взема се страничен продукт, който иначе би бил изхвърлен, и се прекарва през същия вид научен процес на разработка, използван за всеки обещаващ биоресурс.
Bulgarian lavender → Essential oil → Residual biomass → Green extraction → Bioactive compounds → Biological validation → High-value product
Handled this way, the residue can be turned into standardized extracts with potential antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties, and developed further into ingredients for cosmetic, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, or other bio-based applications.
BIORESOURCES can support practically the entire development chain, from characterizing the waste biomass to a finished laboratory prototype:
Valorization doesn’t have to stop there. After the bioactive compounds have been extracted, the remaining material can be explored further as a raw material for materials, sorbents, composting, or other applications, bringing the approach closer to a true zero-waste biorefinery.
Handled this way, a traditional Bulgarian agricultural resource becomes something more: a platform for circular bioeconomy, green technologies, and science-driven product innovation, built on a crop the country already grows at scale.
BIORESOURCES Centre of Competence is supported under Project BG16RFPR002-1.014-0001, “Sustainable Utilization of Bioresources from Medicinal and Aromatic Plants for Innovative Products” (BIORESOURCES BG). The project is funded by the Programme “Research, Innovation and Digitalisation for Smart Transformation” and co-funded by the European Union.
Do you work with lavender, another essential-oil crop, or an agricultural byproduct with untapped potential?
Contact BIORESOURCES to discuss what a circular biorefinery approach could look like for your raw material.
It’s typically treated as waste, but the spent plant material still contains phenolic compounds and other bioactive substances that can be recovered rather than discarded.
Depending on the extraction method, residues can yield phenolic compounds and other bioactives with potential antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties.
It means recovering those compounds using methods designed around green-chemistry principles, such as water-ethanol or ultrasound-assisted extraction, rather than processes that rely on harsher solvents or heavier energy use.
Once characterized and validated, they can be developed into ingredients for cosmetic, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, or other bio-based products.
No. Lavender is the example here, but the same circular biorefinery logic, recovering value from a residue instead of discarding it, applies to other essential-oil crops and agricultural byproducts.
It’s the idea of using as much of the raw material as possible: recovering bioactive compounds first, then exploring the remaining material for further uses such as materials, sorbents, or composting, rather than treating any of it as waste.
Both. BIORESOURCES can support the full chain (from characterizing the waste biomass to a laboratory prototype) or a single stage, such as extraction or biological testing, depending on what a project needs.
Essential-oil producers and processors with residual biomass, and cosmetic, nutraceutical, food, or pharmaceutical companies looking for a scientifically validated, bio-based ingredient with a sustainability story behind it.
Dr. Iliyana Rasheva is an associate professor of microbiology at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and a member of the BIORESOURCES Centre of Competence. Her expertise spans microbiology, molecular biology, microbial biotechnology, and the evaluation of microorganisms and biologically active compounds with potential applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology sectors.
Her professional background combines academic research and teaching with applied research, industry collaboration, product development, and experience in laboratory technologies. She has participated in national and international research projects, including collaborative research between the universities and companies.
Within BIORESOURCES, her work focuses on bridging scientific expertise and practical applications, supporting the development of research-based solutions and the translation of scientific ideas into innovative products and technologies.
The Institute for Research Support was established in 2023 as a non-profit association, with a mission to support scientific organisations, startups and organisations developing innovative ideas. It has a multidisciplinary team in the fields of science, marketing, finance, law, intellectual property and more, structuring the entire process of creating a new product or commercialising a scientific development.
The Institute of Polymers at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences specialises in the research and development of advanced polymeric materials and technologies with applications in medicine, pharmacy and industry. Within CC BIORESOURCES, its scientific potential contributes to the creation of innovative materials and high-technology solutions.
The Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy (FCP) at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” is a leading national centre for education and research in the fields of chemistry, pharmacy and materials science. Within CC BIORESOURCES, FCP participates with leading researchers and scientific infrastructure from the Departments of “Chemical Engineering and Pharmaceutical Engineering” and “Analytical Chemistry”, who specialise in the development and characterisation of innovative products for the cosmetic, food and pharmaceutical industries. Our research team has a strong orientation towards scientific research addressing fundamental and practical questions, working in active collaboration with researchers from Bulgaria and abroad.
Sofia University (SU) is the largest and most prestigious university in Bulgaria, with 16 faculties, 119 degree programmes and approximately 20,000 students.
The Faculty of Biology at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” conducts scientific research in the fields of molecular biology, biotechnology, ecology and biodiversity. The Faculty’s expertise supports the development of sustainable solutions related to bioresources, human health and environmental protection.
Sofia University (SU) is the largest and most prestigious university in Bulgaria, with 16 faculties, 119 degree programmes and approximately 20,000 students.
The AgroBio Institute (ABI) at the Agricultural Academy is one of the leading research institutes in Bulgaria in the fields of plant biotechnology, molecular genetics, metabolomics and the sustainable utilisation of plant genetic resources and agricultural by-products. Within CC BIORESOURCES, ABI contributes its scientific capacity and specialised laboratory infrastructure for the selection and accelerated breeding of medicinal and aromatic plants, as well as the development and implementation of innovative methods and technologies with applications in the bioindustry.
The Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IOCCP – BAS) is a leading scientific organisation in the fields of organic chemistry, phytochemistry and the development of bioactive compounds. The Institute conducts research aimed at the sustainable utilisation of natural resources and the transfer of innovations to business and society.
Институтът за изследователска подкрепа е създаден през 2023 г. като сдружение с нестопанска цел, чиято мисия е да подпомага научни организации, стартиращи компании и организации, развиващи иновативни идеи. Разполага с мултидисциплинарен екип в сферата на науката, маркетинга, финансите, правото, интелектуалната собственост и др., който да структурира цялостното създаване на нов продукт или комерсиализацията на научна разработка.
Институтът по полимери към Българска академия на науките е специализиран в изследванията и разработването на съвременни полимерни материали и технологии с приложение в медицината, фармацията и индустрията. В рамките на ЦК БИОРЕСУРСИ неговият научен потенциал допринася за създаването на иновативни материали и високотехнологични решения.
Факултетът по химия и фармация (ФХФ) към Софийски университет „Св. Климент Охридски“ е водещ национален център за обучение и изследвания в областта на химията, фармацията и материалознанието. В ЦК БИОРЕСУРСИ ФХФ участва с водещи изследователи и научна инфраструктура от катедрите „Инженерна химия и фармацевтично инженерство“ и „Аналитична химия“, които са специализирани в областта на разработването и охарактеризирането на иновационни продукти за козметичната, хранителната и фармацевтичната индустрии. Изследователският ни екип има силна ориентация към научни изследвания, свързани с решаването на фундаментални и практически въпроси, като работи в активно сътрудничество с изследователи от страната и чужбина.
Софийският университет (СУ) е най-големият и най-престижен университет в България с 16 факултета, 119 специалности и обучавани около 20 000 студенти.
Биологическият факултет към Софийски университет „Св. Климент Охридски“ развива научни изследвания в областта на молекулярната биология, биотехнологиите, екологията и биологичното разнообразие. Експертизата на факултета подпомага разработването на устойчиви решения, свързани с биоресурсите, човешкото здраве и опазването на околната среда.
Софийският университет (СУ) е най-големият и най-престижен университет в България с 16 факултета, 119 специалности и обучавани около 20 000 студенти.
АгроБиоИнститут (АБИ) към Селскостопанска академия е един от водещите научноизследователски институти в България в областта на растителните биотехнологии, молекулярната генетика, метаболомиката и устойчивото оползотворяване на растителни генетични ресурси и отпадни продукти от земеделието. В рамките на ЦК БИОРЕСУРСИ АБИ допринася със своя научен капацитет и специализирана лабораторна инфраструктура за отбор и ускорена селекция на медицински и ароматни растения, разработване и внедряване на иновативни методи и технологии с приложение в биоиндустрията.
Институтът по органична химия с център по фитохимия към Българска академия на науките (ИОХЦФ – БАН) е водеща научна организация в областта на органичната химия, фитохимията и разработването на биоактивни съединения. Институтът развива научни изследвания, насочени към устойчивото оползотворяване на природни ресурси и трансфера на иновации към бизнеса и обществото.