Funded under the European Union's COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) program, the ENFiber Action is building an international research and knowledge exchange network dedicated to transforming food processing waste into sustainable, high-value dietary fibers.
Coordinated by METU as the Grant Holder Institution, with Prof. Mecit Halil Öztop serving as Action Chair, the four-year Action (CA24111) has grown to include 644 researchers from 62 countries in its first year. The network is organized around a 79-member Management Committee and seven thematic Working Groups. The first grant period (2025–2026) is supported by a budget of €147,496, and a further €210,000 has been approved for the second grant period.
ENFiber identifies and valorizes fiber rich by products from the food industry, including cocoa bean shells, apple pomace, olive pomace, tomato pomace, and mushroom residues, using sustainable green extraction technologies. The recovered dietary fibers are comprehensively characterized through standardized protocols that evaluate their structural, physicochemical, functional, and bioactive properties. These high value ingredients are then explored for innovative applications in both the food and textile sectors.
At its core, ENFiber aims to transform underutilized food processing side streams into commercially viable, sustainable fiber ingredients. By advancing resource efficiency and waste valorization, the Action contributes to the European Union's Circular Economy Action Plan and Green Deal objectives while strengthening international collaboration, supporting researcher mobility, and equipping the next generation of scientists with the knowledge and skills needed to advance sustainable fiber innovation.
Since its official launch at the COST Association in Brussels in September 2025, ENFiber has rapidly progressed from establishing a governance structure to delivering tangible scientific and networking outcomes. A network-wide Fiber Source Survey gathered more than 150 responses to identify and map the most promising food-processing side streams for future research. In parallel, the Action's first Short-Term Scientific Mission (STSM) call attracted 33 applications, from which 13 researchers were selected to undertake research exchange visits across the network. To support communication and community building, ENFiber has launched its official website (enfiber.eu) and LinkedIn page (linkedin.com/company/enfiber).
In May 2026, ENFiber organized its first International Conference in Tartu, Estonia, hosted by the Estonian University of Life Sciences. The event brought together researchers, industry representatives, and Action members to exchange knowledge on green extraction technologies, bio-based materials, and sustainability. The network continues to build significant momentum.
Its first affiliated scientific publication, focusing on the bioactive potential of blackcurrant pomace extract for functional textile applications, was published in the journal Polysaccharides, and the first ENFiber newsletter was released in July 2026.
Most recently, the call for ENFiber's first Training School, Fiber101: Basics of Fibers, to be held in Ljubljana, Slovenia, in September 2026, attracted 168 applications from researchers from 38 countries. The exceptionally high level of interest resulted in 23 fully funded places being awarded, with an additional 46 applicants being placed on a waiting list.