Partner in the spotlight: RURANT

"Construction and agriculture are two sectors that until now found little mustard together," says Joris. "The emerging market of bio-based building materials is changing that. Not only is there great potential in cooperation, it is even much needed. Without farmers, no fibres are grown, and without the construction industry, no high-quality end product can be made with those fibres. However, as a rural association, RURANT does not have easy access to the construction sector. Therefore, we desperately need a partner like Kamp C."

Biobased Farming

Biobased Farming is a LEADER project in which RURANT surveys the agricultural sector and brings together various parties to boost the biobased farming market. Joris: "We are working with a number of pioneering farmers who are taking up the experiment. In time, we want to focus on raw materials for the construction sector derived from residual flows as well as crops. After all, this could be a new earnings model for farmers. This requires a multidisciplinary approach. That is why we are asking for help from various parties, ranging from farmers and agricultural organisations to knowledge institutes, pilot companies and policy bodies."

The link between agriculture and bio-based construction

"Waste doesn't actually exist. You can really make something beautiful out of everything" - Joris Matthé

Besides crops such as hemp, flax, grass clippings and reeds, agriculture also produces residual streams that could be interesting for the bio-based building market. Just think of cellulose, mycelium, potato starch, sewage sludge, manure ... Joris: "After a visit to the demo house The Exploded View Beyond Building, it quickly becomes clear that waste does not actually exist. You really can make something beautiful out of anything."

"Hemp fibre production is one of the crops already further along in the process. Fibre hemp is grown more and more in our country, producing various products such as insulation, canvas, sheet material and building blocks. That market is growing, but the potential of the bio-based market obviously goes beyond that. However, research and scale-up are still needed and that takes time and effort. RURANT, Kamp C and other partners think the time is more than ripe to give this a chance."

Sowing the seeds together

RURANT is participating as a partner in the active programme during the exhibition of the Exploded View pavilion, as guest speaker, process facilitator, co-organiser ... A first contact moment between the construction and agriculture sectors has already taken place, as well as with the art and design world. A company visit to a hemp grower also met with great approval. Curious about what else RURANT and Kamp C have in store? Then be sure to keep an eye on this website.