Background Starchy biomasses are used in the manufacture of plastic materials, surfactants and chemicals for pharmaceutical compounds. These biodegradable polymer materials are used in many fields for the production of bottles, film, shopping bags etc. Most commercial microbial production is based on sugar beet and cane molasses, although they contain many impurities requiring specific treatments either before, or after, the fermentation processes. Itaconic acid (IA) is produced by fermentation from a fungus, Aspergillus terreus. IA-based monomers and polymers are used to produce bio-based adhesives, inks and paints to ensure that packaging made from polylactic acid (PLA) maintains the biodegradable and compostable properties required required by the EU standard EN 13432. Objectives The BiMoP project will target the applications of itaconic acid (IA) and its derivatives: As reactive diluents for thermo- and photo- initiated radical polymerisation in the production of coatings and inks and adhesives; As curing agents of epoxy resins to replace hazardous chemical and environmentally harmful polyamines and polyamidoamines; To synthesise bio-based unsaturated polyester resins by polycondensation reactions to replace maleic anhydride (MA), which is both harmful to the environment and to human health; As a safer and sustainable alternative to styrene, which is toxic and harmful to human health; As a derivative for the polymer modification of commodities (such as PP and PE) to eliminate the use of MA; and As unsaturated polyester for polymer matrix composites, such as laminates with glass fibres, eliminating styrene as a reactive diluent. Expected results: The project expects to achieve the following results: The production of up to 10 kg per week of unsaturated polyester resins, di-alkylester derivatives for PVC plasticisers (phtalate-free plasticisers) using lab-scale equipment from the commercially available IA; A definition of the timescale for the actions required for technological transfer and prototype preparation (such as glass fibre laminates for innovative biocomposites, thermo - and UV - curable mixtures); A decrease of styrene emissions by approximately 8%, by replacing it with the IA-based monomers and polymers (styrene emissions will be monitored in terms of their environmental and human health impacts); The use of UV-curable mixtures formed by IA-based unsaturated polyesters or the dialkyl derivatives in the field of food packaging as safer inks or coatings for end-users; The application of polyolefin modified by IA in hot melts’ adhesive and in food packaging; The production of bio-based abrasive tapes and laminates in line with stakeholder requirements/suggestions and in compliance with the REACH regulation; and A decrease in formaldehyde and styrene emissions of some 8% (compared with current industrial production activity based on 1 000 tonnes/yr) by replacing the phenol-formaldehyde resins with water-based epoxy resins with IA derivatives as curing agents.