The textile industry is one of the most polluting sectors globally, especially due to the use of synthetic dyes, which rely on petrochemicals, generate hazardous waste, and consume large amounts of water and energy. AgroBioTex is an innovative solution developed by researchers from the University of Coimbra (Portugal) that offers a sustainable alternative: natural textile dyes extracted from agro-industrial residues such as olive mill wastewater, wine lees, grass chlorophyll, and microalgae.

This technology combines eco-friendly pigment extraction with a low-impact dyeing process for wool and other natural fibres. It reduces the use of harmful solvents by 80%, uses biodegradable components, and ensures solvent recovery and reuse—making it truly circular. The result is a durable, natural dye that offers a real alternative to synthetic colourants without generating toxic effluents.

AgroBioTex focuses not only on sustainability, but also on valorising underused local resources such as Portuguese sheep wool, thus reconnecting textile production with regional traditions and circular economy principles. The process has been successfully tested on wool and cotton fabrics and is now seeking industrial partnerships for scale-up.

For textile manufacturers and dyeing professionals, AgroBioTex offers a viable path to reduce environmental impact and align with EU sustainability regulations, while responding to the growing demand for greener fashion. While the colours obtained are more natural and tend to fade gradually over time, the solution promotes consumer awareness and long-term transformation in the textile value chain.

The community of interest for ERBN aims to facilitate the knowledge transfer on small scale innovative solutions, already applicable, but not so well known, that habilitate small rural stakeholders (farmers, foresters, small local businesses) in their transition towards full circular and sustainable bioeconomy.

This community has started growing hosted at multi-language BioRural Toolkit (see details in practice abstract PA#18), where any person/key actor can register and create a profile to get value: 
farmers, foresters and local advisors, usually less connected to research and science circles can find selected reliable practices and related forms of business
Technology providers, of small scale solutions, can make their habilitating offer visible, and make it more known
Any user can consult multiple materials: factsheets, success stories, technology solutions, interactive maps (geoportal), courses, etc.
National AKIS key actors can become part of the management structure, and take advantage of ERBN as an alternative channel of transfer

Wood gasification is a widely used process, with hundreds of gasification plants in Italy producing electricity and heat through the combustion of syngas in internal combustion engines. Mature technologies are available on the market that can ensure high reliability, provided that the biofuel meets strict standards regarding particle size, moisture content, and ash levels.
At the heart of this innovation lies a different approach to electricity generation using an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) engine. The advantage of this method is that, while maintaining the high performance of a gasifier in terms of particulate emissions, it reduces the operational and maintenance challenges associated with internal combustion engines.
This approach not only offers a sustainable alternative to fossil energy sources but also adds value to by-products, providing a practical solution for industries aiming to reduce their carbon footprint.
The innovative solution is based on a modular and scalable CHP (Combined Heat and Power) plant, composed of thermal units, each with a capacity of 33 kW and equipped with its own wood chip feeding system. These units can be interconnected to achieve the required power output, making them ideal for a variety of applications, including:
Schools, hotels, and swimming pools
Office buildings and shopping centers
Remote or off-grid locations, such as rural and mountainous territories
This decentralized model of energy production significantly reduces energy costs while ensuring a sustainable, low-emission source of heating and power. Furthermore, gasification with biochar production is a carbon-negative process.
 

• Wood gasification

To effectively capture the grassroots-level opinions of stakeholders across 14 countries, an innovative workshop series was developed. This series was designed to engage bioeconomy stakeholders and gather insights on the transition to circular bio-based value chains. Please refer to the full report for in-depth details.

The main innovations emerging from the workshops were centred around the reuse of residues and byproducts from existing value chains. Innovations in this area aimed to reduce waste while creating valuable products, such as bioenergy and bioplastics, from byproducts of agricultural, forestry, and industrial activities. Another prominent theme was the development of sustainable materials, with many ideas focused on replacing conventional fossil-based materials with bio-based alternatives. The main bio-based product ideas revolved around agricultural products, such as bio-based fertilizers, bioplastics made from agricultural residues, and bioenergy from crop residues.

Key examples of innovative ideas in food and agriculture systems included: biomass valorization from agricultural prunings, bio-based fertilizers from wood and agricultural byproducts establishing hubs to collect and process organic residues from farms. Key examples of innovative ideas in aquatic systems included: Seawater Cubes for sustainable aquaculture, monitoring water quality around mussel rafts, using recycled plastic or bio-based materials for mussel pegs. Key examples of innovative ideas in biomaterials, biobased industries and biorefining systems included: creating biomaterials using fermentation processes, using lignin to create sustainable bio-based adhesives for the wood industry.

Stakeholders also suggested continued support for research especially in closing technological gaps related to processing efficiencies as well as fostering regional bioeconomy clusters, where local industries can collaborate to share resources and infrastructure for addressing logistical challenges.
 

• D3.3 Bio-based solutions innovation report

As modern agriculture faces a challenge of feeding a constantly growing population, it relies heavily on synthetic fertilisers and plant protection products. On the other hand, it has to meet the obligation to reduce chemical inputs which, although are likely to boost crop yield, in excess can lead to serious environmental problems, such as water pollution and soil degradation. Transitioning to more sustainable practices is the answer necessary to protect water, soil and other living organisms. MicrobePlus offers an alternative solution that aligns with these principles, promoting plant growth and development for high quality yields while reducing the environmental impact at the same time.

MicrobePlus company developed an environmentally friendly biological product which consists of carefully selected microorganisms that improve crop health and growth. The microbes colonize plants and create a symbiotic relationship that has been proven to help plants reduce both biotic and abiotic stress, boosting their immunity and resistance to pathogens as well as improving nutrient uptake. MicrobePlus carefully selected the microorganisms based on their effects on crops and by identifying the most effective combinations that promote plant growth and suppress or prevent the growth of pathogens: fungi, bacteria, and viruses. 

Microbes that produce beneficial metabolites, enzymes, and phytohormones were selected and enhanced through fermentation techniques. The product performance has been tested against a number of crops including cereals, canola, sugar beet, potatoes, soybean, vegetables and fruits. The composition of the product is based on microorganisms instead of synthetic chemicals, which allows to reduce the use of both synthetic fertiliser and PPPs. The product is completely biodegradable - the microbes leave no harmful residues in soil, water, or crops produced which helps reduce the negative impact of agricultural production on the environment. 

• MicrobePlus Biological - video

NaturePlast, a bioplastics leader since 2007, guide industrial players in bioplastic product development, offering comprehensive support. With Europe's largest bioplastic materials portfolio, it focuses on distribution, by-product recovery, R&D, and training. Innovations include plastic pellet sales, polymer modification, and biomass recovery. Facing challenges like market unfamiliarity, NaturePlast strategically created Biopolynov in 2010 for in-house research and tailored materials.

Commitment to alternatives to conventional plastics includes both origin and end-of-life aspects. Recognition of the company increased with the development of modified polymers with improved thermal resistance. The circular business model adapted to industry trends and regulatory changes. Bioplastics, niche (1-1.5% of global polymer production), show potential growth, especially in luxury goods and cosmetics. NaturePlast's journey started with first willingness to offer alternative materials, evolving into a training hub, improving through R&D. A substantial growth is anticipated in the expanding bioplastics landscape.

Entering the biomaterials market involved development of appropriate technical-commercial proposals, in-house R&D, and equipment investments. Actively sharing experiences, NaturePlast aims to shift mindsets, boost material sales, and address regulatory shifts, emphasizing the importance of adding functionality to materials for sustained success.

Sciven, founded in 2012, specializes in small-scale, low-temperature cogeneration for electrical energy. Initially focusing on R&D, the company shifted to biomass-fueled thermal centrals, scalable from 150 to 500 kW per boiler, offering comprehensive engineering solutions. Their 2019 product launch includes biomass-fueled boilers, championing reduced energy expenditure, decarbonization, and complete energy services.

Sciven adopts a circular model, integrating biomass supply, operation, and maintenance for a resilient and sustainable energy economy. Dissemination occurs through network dissemination, project participation, and conferences, targeting public entities, hotels, industries, and energy communities.With a modular design, Sciven's solution adapts easily to diverse energy needs and infrastructures. Local partnerships and community engagement enhance replicability in various geographical contexts.

The company's journey involved research, contest wins, and integration into an acceleration program. Guided by mentors, they shifted from domestic micro cogeneration to a larger-scale solution using biomass-fueled boilers. Challenges included assessing energy consumption practicality and adapting to a dynamic industry landscape, ensuring income generation for a sustainable biomass supply chain.

Algen, algal biology centre, llc is SME established in 2010, specialized in the development and system integration of the algae technology systems, providing consulting, algal cultivation, wastewater treatment and engineering services. Working on algal cultivation on waste streams, Algen transforms wastewater into valuable algal biomass, used in diverse applications such as fertilizers, animal feed, and cosmetics. A key innovation is their approach to processing biogas digestate, a byproduct of biogas production, using algae to treat this waste stream effectively while recycling nutrients and CO2.

Due to its dilute nature, liquid biogas digestate poses logistical and agrotechnical issues. The EU's regulations on nitrogen application add to the complexity of utilizing digestate. The innovative solution proposed is the cultivation of algae in the liquid phase of the digestate, recycling energy and nutrients, and producing valuable biomass for various applications, including biofertilizers and biogas feedstock.

Algen's technology offers a sustainable solution for wastewater treatment and an opportunity for new revenue streams through the production of algal biomass and its derivatives. Their approach supports circular economy principles and lowering of carbon footprint. Algal systems can be added as a side-stream in any production without changing the original system or can be self-sustained production systems with or without the greenhouse. For high-grade algae production, Algen is offering raceway pond technology that can be easily installed and maintained at the farm or biogas plant. The system is easily operated, including many automated processes.

The Joint Stock Company "Latvia's State Forests" (LVM), established in 1999, primarily focuses on forestry, governed by a council and board representing Latvia's Ministry of Agriculture. Beyond forestry, LVM engages in hunting, recreation, seed production, and subsoil resource marketing. Recognized for technological innovation, LVM addresses challenges like workforce availability through solutions like planting robots and GPS-marked seedlings.

Facing issues of young tree protection from animals, LVM innovatively employs sheep wool, collaborating with local stakeholders to recycle wool into a forest protection product. This circular business model aligns supply and demand, emphasizing sustainability in collaboration with universities.

LVM's commitment to addressing workforce challenges involves consistent innovation and collaboration with researchers and experts. Combining technological devices and biobased solutions, like using sheep wool for tree protection, showcases LVM's dedication to environmentally friendly practices.

Engaged in cross-border learning, LVM fosters knowledge exchange in the forestry community, advocating for alternative practices as standards. The exploration of eco-friendly innovations, such as sheep wool, addresses environmental and labor issues associated with current methods. Research and collaboration emphasize continuous experimentation for sustainable forestry practices

Aceites Guadalentin, an olive oil producer in Jaén (Andalusia, Spain), faced olive pomace management challenges in the 90s. After almost 30 years exploring different paths, and establishing 2012 their own olive pomace oil plant, they partnered with BIOLIZA in 2018, a gasification tech startup from the University of Jaén. This consultancy company shifted its role to EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) to ensure a good pipelining of the project with Aceites Guadalentín. This pivotal move secured subsidies and implemented a gasification process, converting olive pomace into electricity and obtaining further revenues from bio-products like biochar and olive stones. The remaining olive pomace undergoes solar drying and is sold to energy facilities.

Active exploration of innovations like biogas generation showcases commitment to circularity and the fact that innovation does not stop after doing the first step. The gasification tech's broad applicability addresses by-product management challenges for olive mills, offering economic benefits through multiple revenue streams. Aceites Guadalentín and BIOLIZA set a benchmark for sustainable olive mill practices.

Overcoming challenges included limited gasification knowledge, customer scepticism as being a new technology and first plant of its type, adapting to energy demands, and dealing with the legal permits for settling such singular and unique plant. The experience has proved the reliability and sustainability of the approach, that can be replicated by other companies and also in other sectors.

Staramaki, a Social Cooperative situated in the rural area of Kilkis, Northern Greece, pioneers an innovative approach to address environmental and social challenges: it transforms a by-product of wheat cultivation into a sustainable alternative to single-use plastic straws. Beyond its ecological mission, Staramaki serves as a catalyst for positive social impact, generating employment opportunities for the local community, fostering local and regional development.

The production process involves the meticulous handling of harvested wheat, which undergoes trimming, washing, sterilising, and drying to craft eco-friendly drinking straws. Notably, these straws do not compromise the taste of beverages and remain resilient, presenting a viable solution in contrast to other available alternatives.

Staramaki's inherently circular business model is further reinforced; residue from the manufacturing process finds a second life as animal bedding for a local horse riding club, ultimately returning to Staramaki as fertiliser for their wheat fields. This natural fertiliser is enriched further by incorporating coffee waste from local cafes, creating an effective and sustainable soil enhancer.

This replicable initiative demonstrates the universal potential of natural wheat straws, offering both environmental and social benefits, showcasing a circular bioeconomy in action. By converting agricultural residue into a valuable input for socially cohesive and environmentally conscious production, Staramaki exemplifies a circular bio-based solution, creating added value and contributing positively to both local communities and the planet.

Pustelnia, a family-owned fish farming business since 1980, prioritizes sustainable aquaculture, holding a Fish Welfare Certificate and following the Code of Good Fishing Practice. By 2016, Pustelnia expanded into a diverse entity, including fish farming, processing, a restaurant, shops, and an online store, with 28 employees focusing on stable local markets.

In response to declining fish production, Pustelnia innovatively diversified operations and tripled processing plant capacity to 80 tons. The circular business model engages consumers through a restaurant, shops, and online platforms, reinforcing the farm-to-table concept. Initiatives like FishTrucks and an online store enhance accessibility within a 100 km radius and across Poland.

Pustelnia's success lies in its globally replicable model, integrating fish farming with the entire value chain, expert engagement, and strategic expansion. Lessons learnt include navigating legislative challenges, environmental impacts, and market dynamics for sustainable aquaculture ventures.

Facing declining fish production, Pustelnia upgraded its processing plant, shifted from wholesale to retail, and strategically reassigned organizational roles. A balanced marketing approach and direct deliveries strengthened the farm-to-table concept. Pustelnia's journey demonstrates a sustainable, diversified, and replicable aquaculture model, addressing societal attitudes, protected species limitations, and building local market trust.

In 2014, Delphy and Rusthoeve jointly started the realisation of the Biobased Innovations Garden Rusthoeve with the ambition:
The BioBased Innovations Garden is internationally recognised as the Biobased Delta's breeding ground for innovation in the cultivation and application of new green raw materials in the processing industry.  The Rusthoeve is therefore the place where (agricultural) entrepreneur(s), knowledge institutions and demand from the business community (construction and chemistry) meet and innovations emerge. To this end, knowledge institutes and companies have close ties and branch offices at the Rusthoeve.
This was the first large demonstration field in the Netherlands where several potential raw materials are grown side by side. The Biobased Innovation Garden Rusthoeve has become a place where over 100 different potential biobased crops have been grown in recent years.
After 5 years of biobased garden, including from 2017 within the Interreg Nl/Vl project Growing a Green Future, we have taken many steps to realise this ambition. Analyses have been done on several crops, business cases have been made. The biobased garden is visited by many people every year, including entrepreneurs, farmers and students.  Several research and developments have also been started in cooperation with the business community, such as now on growing Dutch cotton and natural rubber from dandelion.  Hopeful results have been obtained from analyses on wormwoord for insect repellent contents which offers opportunities for arable farming. Also, crops that may have a limited role in the biobased economy but offer opportunities as food such as sweet potato, sorghum and gluten-free amaranth have emerged in the biobased garden sidelines.
 

Addressing barriers to circular bioeconomy adoption in rural Europe, Biorural equips practitioners with robust business modeling tools for strategic integration of bio-based solutions, fostering sustainable development. The suite of blueprints focuses on key themes and leverages the Business Model Canvas (BMC) and Sustainable Business Model Canvas (SBMC) to capture economic, environmental, and social impact, ensuring circularity. The SBMC ensures value proposition articulation, emphasizing environmental benefits. The Triple Layered Business Model Canvas (TLBMC) holistically integrates economic, environmental, and social objectives into ventures. Frameworks enable designing and evaluating circular ventures; this allows for diversified income, minimized waste, enhanced resource use, and improved competitiveness. TLBMC implementation facilitates stakeholder engagement and transparency. Outcomes support informed decisions, attract investment, and accelerate a resilient bioeconomy.

• Triple Layered Business Model Canvas per bioeconomy theme

In Alcarràs, one of Europe’s densest livestock regions, over 250,000 pigs and 70,000 cattle generate massive volumes of slurry and manure. Traditional application of the pig and cattle slurry to the agricultural soils was becoming unsustainable due to environmental pressure and legal restrictions. Small family farms lacked individual capacity to manage this growing challenge. A shared solution was urgently needed to turn a local waste problem into an opportunity.

Since 2006, two farmers’ associations—representing 150 families—joined efforts to find alternatives. With expert guidance they created a cooperative called SAT Alcarràs Bioproductors. The initiative was welcomed since the challenge had been addressed in conversations with local inhabitants and in connection with local municipalities and authorities. In 2022, a composting plant began operating, processing 27,000 t/year of solid manure fractions mixed with green waste. Compost is sold locally and to organic markets in Spain and France. In 2023, the cooperative launched a biogas plant with two digesters treating slurry and manure to produce over 1.7 million m³ of biogas annually. Energy is used for plant operations, with excess sold to the grid. Heat will serve nearby farms and a planned agri-food facility. The project closes nutrient loops and enhances local self-reliance in energy and fertiliser production.

This initiative demonstrates how small-scale farms can collectively manage livestock residues through circular bio-based systems. Key to success: shared governance, trust, and early technical support. The model is scalable and adaptable where environmental, social and regulatory pressures converge. Though no public funding was needed, policy support and local buy-in accelerated implementation. Benefits include environmental protection, income diversification, energy self-sufficiency, and improved community relations. Future plans include digestate treatment, biomethane injection, and on-site vegetable prote

• Youtube video report of the success case
• Full reports and pictures at INtercamBIOM webpage

The European bioeconomy is one of the EU’s largest and most important sectors encompassing agriculture, forestry, fisheries, food, bioenergy, and bio-based products with an annual turnover of around 2 trillion euros and employing around 18 million people. The EU bioeconomy is transforming from an economy based on linear economic models to circular economic models; however, this transformation is still at its early stages and will require the transformation of existing production systems and value chains as well as the creation of new innovative value chains.

There is considerable variation in the types and geographic availability of biomass across the EU. The total production of biomass in the EU consisted of around 1.1 billion tons of dry matter of which 95% is produced locally and 5% imported with Agriculture being the biggest supply sector.

In recent years EU policy has become very supportive of the development of a sustainable EU bioeconomy and the updated EU bioeconomy strategy operates in parallel to multiple other policy initiatives such as the new CAP, Green Deal, Farm to Fork strategy and circular economy action plan. 
Improved knowledge on the status of the bioeconomy in the EU, its trajectory and associated innovations will help citizens, entrepreneurs and policy makers to transition to a circular bioeconomy, for more information please consult the BioRural toolkit. There are a range of materials available through this toolkit designed to provide users with knowledge and practical support for developing a circular bioeconomy based businesses. These materials include factsheets, bioeconomy inventory, success stories and educational materials as well as a network of bioeconomy stakeholders.

Calpech SL was officially founded in 2021, but its roots go back much further, to research carried out at the University of Alicante from 2010. Professor Andrés Fullana, an expert in environmental technologies, had long worked on ways to reduce pollution and reuse waste. In 2016, he led a project to create encapsulated zero-valent iron nanoparticles (CE-nZVI) which can clean soil and water, break down pesticides, and improve biogas production. And at same time, they can resolve an issue with circularity, as the can be made from olive mill wastewater obtained from olive oil extraction process. This vegetal water, known as alpechin, is a liquid is hard to treat due to its high phenol content.

One of Fullana’s researchers, Yuriy Budyk, helped scale the process from lab to pilot scale. When a patent was published in 2020, Prof. Fullana, researcher Blanca Calderón and Dr. Budyl founded Calpech SL to bring this innovation to market. They saw a clear opportunity: that alpechins could be treated locally by olive mills, olive pomace oil extractors or in intermediate local hubs, to make valuable iron nanoparticles for multiple uses, some as direct as biogas plants, where these additive can lead to 90% reduction of hydrogen sulphide (SH2) in biogas, increase of biogas production of +20% and contribute to stabilisation of the process.

In 2022, Calpech partnered with Troil Vegas Altas, a cooperative in Extremadura, to run a pilot near the source of alpechin. The project proved it was possible to make CE-nZVI sustainably and at scale. In 2023, Calpech launched its first product: Ce-in Biogas, a nanoparticle additive that improves methane production and removes harmful gases in digesters.

Calpech soon gained recognition. Awards like the FOLIVE Innova Prize and support from investors helped fund a new industrial plant in Alicante, opened in 2025. Now, the company is expanding into new markets like water treatment and agriculture—turning waste into value, science into solutions.

• CALPECH webpage
• Introduction to Calpech company and technology (English)
• Short presentation in BioRural Innovation webinar:
• Corporative video (Spanish)

Monte Holiday Ecoturismo (MHE), a ecotourism resort in the Sierra de Madrid started a fire prevention initiative as being aware the surrounding Mediterranean forest, unmanaged for decades, had accumulated excessive biomass—up to 70 tonnes/hectare in some areas—due to the decline in grazing and firewood use. This, combined with the steep created a dangerous “chimney effect” that could rapidly spread fire rapidly. The challenge was twofold: to reduce this fire risk while maintaining the resort’s commitment to renewable energy and sustainability.

The resort’s owner, a forest engineer, launched a fire prevention initiative based on a self-protection plan and an updated forest management strategy. In 2023, thinning operations began in high-risk areas, reducing forest density. The key innovation was circular: the resulting low-grade biomass—previously considered waste—was shredded and used to fuel a newly installed 500 kW biomass boiler, replacing the need to buy commercial woodchips (previously costing €20,000–€30,000 annually). This local, regenerative loop not only mitigated fire risk but also sustained the resort’s district heating system. The first campaign demonstrated technical feasibility, though costs were higher than standard fuel. Nonetheless, it created environmental and safety value, and promoted soil health through nutrient return from twigs and leaves left onsite.

This model is replicable in other forest-village or resort interfaces:

• Start with a fire risk assessment and self-protection plan;
• Align forest thinning with local biomass energy needs; or invest in own adapted boilers
• Engage authorities early to integrate with municipal emergency plans.

Although not economically profitable in the short term, the long-term benefits include protection of people and assets, reduced insurance risk, improved forest health, and potential subsidies for fire prevention. 

• Youtube video report with Monteholiday Ecoturismo owner
• Full reports and pictures at INtercamBIOM webpage

Considering the need to understand the needs for collaboration between the bio-based solutions adopters, more than 46 experts were surveyed which has a long practical experience in one of more Bioeconomy sectors (agriculture and food, forestry and manufacture of wood and furniture, water systems - fishery, aquaculture, manufacture of biomaterials and bio-based products, and bioenergy). The survey has been carried out in March-June 2023. 
According to the survey results, the EU, national, regional, and local government institutions are active stakeholders influencing small-scale producers to convert to bio-based production/ processing as well innovation brokers, agricultural/technical advisors. The specific importance was given to the cooperatives or producer groups and branch business associations, because their help for the members with their products along the entire value chain. Their role is fundamental for the adoption of sustainable farming practices, due to increase of knowledge available about these practices through the technical body of these structures. 
The recommendations from the survey: Encourage Cross-Sector Partnerships between diverse stakeholders; Promote Skill Development and Education by providing education on bio-based solutions, sustainable agriculture practices, and technologies; Establish Collaborative Platforms, such as bio-based innovation hubs or collaborative networks, where researchers, farmers, entrepreneurs, and community members can come together. The analogue of such a collaborative platform is BioRural Toolkit and Network.

In rural Aragón, Spain, the Hotel Spa Aguas de los Mallos faced a major operational challenge: high energy bills due to heating demands for spa water and hotel comfort. Located in a cereal-producing area, the owners—also local farmers—wondered whether the abundant straw, often underutilised or left unsold, could be a viable source of energy. Their aim was to find a sustainable, circular solution that would reduce dependency on fossil fuels and secure long-term economic viability.

Initial attempts in 2014 involved adapting a woodchip boiler to burn straw. Though innovative, the retrofitted system became unstable over time. After learning from the experience, the hotel partnered in 2019 with ACR ECOCALDERAS, a Spanish tech company specialising in automated bale straw combustion. They installed a new 200 kW boiler, custom-built to handle straw securely and efficiently. The system has operated flawlessly since, offering clean combustion and fully automated feeding. As a result, the hotel drastically reduced its heating costs—four times lower than natural gas—and remained open during the post-COVID energy crisis, while others struggled. In parallel, a second 60 kW straw-fired boiler was installed in their smaller rural hotel in town, showcasing scalability.

This case demonstrates how rural resorts and housing businesses can leverage local agricultural by-products for energy. The key lies in reliable, dedicated technology and trust between local actors and suppliers. The investment (ca. €50,000) paid off in just three years. Replicable in other rural areas with straw availability, the solution is clean, cost-effective, and enhances energy sovereignty. Hotel guests don’t notice any difference in comfort. With complementary solar and geothermal systems already in place, the hotel has fully decarbonised its heat supply, becoming a model for circular innovation in rural tourism.

• Youtube video of co-owner describing the success case

Gwiker Earthfood, a Portuguese startup based in Caldas da Rainha, has developed an innovative circular solution to food waste by transforming surplus and aesthetically imperfect fruits and vegetables into high-quality, natural snacks. Their product line includes granolas, fruit crisps, and veggie bars made without additives, using dehydration techniques powered by solar energy.

Founded in 2016, Gwiker began by cultivating organic shiitake mushrooms but quickly expanded into upcycling local food surplus. Their model addresses major bioeconomy challenges: reducing greenhouse gas emissions from organic waste, supporting local farmers, and raising consumer awareness about responsible consumption.

A key to Gwiker’s success lies in local sourcing and short supply chains, which ensure a low environmental impact and provide economic support to nearby producers. The company combines technology, design, and sustainability by utilising solar-powered drying systems, biodegradable packaging, and distribution partnerships, including one with Too Good To Go. By 2023, they had rescued over 170 tons of fruits and vegetables and expanded into national retail chains like Continente.

This model offers a replicable solution for regions seeking to valorize agricultural surplus. It illustrates how small businesses can lead in sustainable food innovation while maintaining financial viability through retail scaling and strategic partnerships. Gwiker continues to develop new product lines and community engagement strategies to further close the circular loop in food systems.

• Youtube video showcasing the solution
• Gwiker official website

The core technology involves the natural ripening and fermentation of locally grown raw garlic, sourced from organic farms, to produce black garlic. The process employs slow fermentation (lasting 50–60 days) without the use of chemical additives, food preservatives, or plastic materials to retain moisture. Instead, fermentation occurs entirely naturally, driven by controlled humidity and temperature conditions. Raw garlic heads that are unsuitable for fermentation are repurposed by another small family farm to produce culinary spices. Additionally, visually imperfect fractions of fermented black garlic, which do not meet market standards, are processed into food ingredients for functional nutrition. This two-tiered valorisation approach minimizes food waste. Only local, high-quality raw materials - specifically garlic heads from an old Lithuanian variety - are used in production. This practice encourages farmers to reintroduce traditional garlic varieties into crop rotations, thereby promoting agrobiodiversity and contributing to the conservation of the genetic resources of ancient local cultivars.

This circular production model eliminates the use of external inputs such as food preservatives, chemical additives, synthetic fertilizers, chemical plant protection products, and plastic packaging. As a result, the process ensures a safe, environmentally sustainable, and economically efficient method of production.

Local participation is central to the model: the use of an old Lithuanian garlic variety enables the creation of a distinctive regional product, stimulates demand for locally sourced raw materials, and supports employment in rural areas. 

• Garlic moon - fermented black garlic

The Energy Community of Karditsa (ESEK) shows how local cooperation can turn agricultural and forestry residues into affordable, clean energy for heating and electricity. Based in a region rich in biomass potential, ESEK helps farmers, foresters, and citizens reduce dependence on fossil fuels by producing and distributing solid biofuels (e.g., pellets) from sawdust, municipal green waste or even coffee waste from local coffee houses. Their work supports the rural economy of Karditsa while addressing high heating costs and energy poverty.

The main innovation lies in creating a fully local bioenergy value chain—using local feedstocks, engaging local technicians and suppliers, and distributing the energy locally. A pellet production unit was established, and biomass boilers are already heating public buildings like kindergartens. With support from the H2020-funded BECoop project, ESEK is also acting as an ESCO (Energy Services Company), enabling municipalities to switch to renewable heating with minimal upfront cost.

In parallel, ESEK is pioneering solar energy access through its FREE SOLAR programme, which enables households and SMEs to install PV systems with zero capital investment, repaid through energy savings. A 1.2 MW virtual net metering project has also been launched, helping members cover electricity needs with shared solar production.

Practitioners can replicate this model by forming energy communities, pooling local biomass or solar resources, and working with municipalities to deploy renewable infrastructure. Key benefits include lower energy bills, local job creation, and greater resilience against fossil fuel price shocks. The main costs involve the initial setup of cooperative structures and infrastructure, but grants, cooperative banks, and EU programmes can reduce these barriers. ESEK demonstrates that citizen-led energy systems are not only possible—they’re sustainable, inclusive, and replicable.

• Main website
• BECoop partner ESEK in a 5-min video
• Half-hour presentation of ESEK for online seminar

Spirulina Nord has developed an innovative and circular approach to cultivating fresh spirulina in Latvia, marking a significant achievement as the northernmost producer of this superfood in Europe. The main challenge addressed is the local, sustainable production of high-nutrient food in a climate not traditionally suitable for spirulina. By pioneering new growing technologies adapted to the Latvian climate, Spirulina Nord enables year-round, pesticide-free cultivation of spirulina, ensuring a product that is both environmentally friendly and highly nutritious. 

Key results include the production of fresh spirulina with a unique nutritional profile: it is rich in antioxidants, essential amino acids, and vitamins (C, E, provitamin A, and B group), and contains iron that is absorbed 30% more efficiently than synthetic supplements. The cultivation process is circular and innovative – no pesticides or harmful chemicals are used, and the system is designed to minimize environmental impact by optimizing water and nutrient cycles.

For practitioners, this model offers a replicable solution for diversifying farm income, increasing local food security, and clinically validated health-promoting product. Costs are mainly related to initial setup and controlled environment infrastructure, but these are offset by premium product pricing and year-round production capacity.

• Spirulina Nord: The Story of Northern Europe’s Fresh Spirulina

The BioRural SW EU-Challenge workshop served as a powerful source of inspiration for emerging forms of bioeconomy in Spain, Portugal, and Italy. Held in Valladolid on 27–28 November 2025, it showcased 13 innovative initiatives focused on circular bioeconomy in rural areas. Three standout ideas highlighted key circular approaches with potential to drive new local bio-based business models:

• AgroBioTex (Portugal) – A youth-led research initiative turning agri-waste and sheep wool into eco-friendly textiles. Agro-industrial residues are valorized to produce modified extracts for wool-based textile applications.
• Protiberia (Spain) – Proposes using spent mushroom substrate (SPS) to generate high-value proteins through insect bioconversion, paving the way for insect farming as a key circular bioeconomy enabler.
• Renergy 1.618 & KiRa Technology (Italy) – Introduce a micro-scale modular solution to convert forestry residues into heat and electricity, particularly suited to mountainous and forested areas.

These ideas are currently in testing phases and ready for piloting. Though not yet commercialized, they offer tangible inspiration for agro-industries, farmers, and foresters to embrace similar innovative paths. All follow open innovation models, inviting new partnerships.

The SW EU-Challenge also opened the door to further innovation across bioeconomy sectors, such as:

• Using the organic fraction (OF) of municipal solid waste (MSW) to: a) produce biochar for parks and town decarbonisation; b) produce compost and biogas in small villages
• Zero-carbon rural communities through renewables and local waste integration in biogas plants
• Forest debris as co-feedstock for recycled plastic furniture in parks and urban spaces
• Keratin extraction from waste wool for cosmetic uses
• Gastronomic innovations using alginate beads from sparkling wine by-products
• Biorefinery approaches to spent coffee grounds for valuable fractions and biogas co-digestion
• SPS residues transformed into bioenergy fuels 

• Summary of SW EU Challenge Awardee #1 - AgroBioTex. From Agrowaste to Eco-Frie…
• Interview to SW EU Challenge Awardee #2 - Protiberia. Spent Mushroom substrate…
• Interview to SW EU Challenge #3 - Renergy 1.618. The ultimate energy from tree…

The BioRural SE EU-Challenge workshop, held in Thessaloniki, Greece on 26–27 November 2024, was a key event promoting innovative bioeconomy solutions across Greece, Romania, Slovenia, North Macedonia, and Turkey. The workshop featured 13 pioneering initiatives focused on advancing the circular bioeconomy in rural regions. Among them, three standout ideas demonstrated strong circular strategies with high potential to foster new local bio-based business models:=

• Nonstop Food (Slovenia) – The Nonstop team has developed a technology that allows by-products to be processed and used in products such as crackers, pasta, bread, etc.
• BIOHIDE or Kombucha-based Leather (North Macedonia) – The innovative use of kombucha to create sustainable, leather-like materials stood out for its originality and environmental impact.
• Noema or My Bio T (Italy) – This project was recognized for its ingenuity and potential to bring an innovative bio-based product to market quickly.

These ideas are currently in the testing phase and ready to move into piloting. While not yet commercialized, they provide practical inspiration for farmers, foresters, and agro-industries to explore similar innovations. 

The SE EU-Challenge also opened the door to further innovation across bioeconomy sectors, such as:

• Transforming brewer’s spent grain into flour and leading it back into food industry
• Help biogas plants improve their final product, from biogas to biohythane, which is a cleaner fuel with higher energy density.
• Sustainable packaging solutions from organic waste.
• Utilization of sheep wool, a natural byproduct of livestock farming, transforming it into a valuable resource for sustainable agriculture
• Combination of biodegradable mulch films with bio-based superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) derived from agricultural waste.
• Biobased solutions for household hygiene and cosmetics, fully biodegradable product utilizing the principles of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle circularity.

• Summary of SE EU Challenge Awardee #1 - NONSTOP. efficient utilization of by-pr…
• Interview to SE EU Challenge Awardee #2 - BioHde: Biodegradable, cruelty-free k…
• Interview to SE EU Challenge #3 - Noema: Creating compostable clothes from bio-…

Modern food systems face the growing challenge of producing more food with fewer natural resources, while reducing environmental impact and ensuring access to fresh, healthy products in urban areas. Traditional agriculture and aquaculture are often resource-intensive, generate waste, and rely heavily on chemical inputs and long supply chains. 

Aquaponics Iberia has developed a modular, closed-loop aquaponics system that merges fish farming and plant cultivation in a symbiotic and highly efficient setup, ideal for urban and peri-urban environments. This innovative solution enables food production with almost zero water waste and no synthetic inputs, offering a sustainable alternative for growing fresh, organic food close to consumers.

The core technology—SWIMS (Solid Waste Integrated Management System)—turns fish waste into plant nutrients and uses residual organic matter to cultivate duckweed, replacing up to 30% of conventional fish feed. This circular model significantly reduces the need for external inputs like synthetic fertilizers or medicated feed, ensuring a safe, ecological and cost-effective operation.

Practitioners such as farmers, schools, municipalities, and hospitality businesses can apply this system at various scales: from educational mini-farms to commercial units. Benefits include low water and energy use, minimized operational costs, and a high-quality product that meets growing demand for healthy, locally produced food. With pilot projects already running in Portugal and the Caribbean, and an investment-ready commercial model ("Fish n’ Greens"), this solution shows strong potential for replication and scale-up.

• Fish ‘n’ Greens by Aquaponics Iberia

Actors involved in the biomass supply chain need new knowledge and skills to accelerate the deployment of innovative, sustainable and circular biobased solutions in rural areas. In 2023, we surveyed farmers and entrepreneurs across thirteen EU member states and North Macedonia to identify their training and advice needs for adopting bio-based solutions. The survey revealed significant differences in the intensity of training and advisory support needs among farmers and entrepreneurs with different demographic and business structure characteristics.
Advisory support was found to be more needed than training in bioeconomy sectors. 
The advisory support is more needed for farmers, food manufacturers, and bioenergy producers than foresters, manufacturers of wood, fishermen and biomaterials producers. 
The training is most needed for farmers and food manufacturers as well as for foresters for manufacturers of wood products and furniture, followed by bioenergy producers. The training is least needed for fishermen and producers of biomaterials and bio-based products. 
Advisory and training support is more needed for natural persons than legal entities. The training is more needed for farmers and entrepreneurs with intermediate education than advanced education. The training support is more necessary for farmers and entrepreneurs from remote rural areas than for those from rural areas close to a city. 
Where you can get the latest knowledge and advice? Collaborate more with educational institutions (vocational schools, colleges and universities). Join existing or create new networks for knowledge-sharing and mentorship networks. For more information please consult the BioRural toolkit.

The BioRural Toolkit is an online repository developed with the aim to provide access to the project results and facilitate the use of information collected & knowledge generated in the course of the project. It is designed to enable interaction between stakeholders, providing the platform to communicate, exchange experience and knowledge, and seek collaborations in the chosen fields of bioeconomy. After the first project period, the Toolkit offered several functionalities that enable sharing knowledge on bioeconomy (see: BioRural PA no.19)., in the form of: Factsheets; Bioeconomy inventory; BioRural success stories; Online tutorials. These categories have been continuously updated and completed with new material generated by BioRural throughout the course of the project. Other functionalities included: a Geoportal with different categories of geospatial information available for Europe, and an Interactive Network Map facilitating networking and collaboration between bioeconomy stakeholders around EU. The remaining functionalities have been completed and added to the Toolkit since: Ideas and Collaboration Opportunities constitute a dedicated space to share ideas for bio-based solutions, business collaboration, or inspiring projects presented by other bioeconomy stakeholders from around EU. The cases include the leading start-ups awarded in the BioRural Bioeconomy Challenge; Practice abstracts, presentations of chosen success stories and activities organised by BioRural to promote bioeconomy;  business model blueprints developed in collaboration with BioRural success stories; Policy and research guidelines for the development of rural circular bioeconomy draw from the findings collected, with key messages including: interactive and multi-actor innovation processes, new funding formats, future research, topics of interest for the nationals and EU research agendas.

• BioRural Toolkit

The BioRural Toolkit is an online repository of bio-based solutions that enables interaction between rural actors, providing the platform to communicate, exchange experience and knowledge, and seek collaborations in the chosen fields of bioeconomy.

Currently, the Toolkit offers information in the following categories:
1)        Factsheets, 
2)        Bioeconomy inventories,
3)        BioRural success stories, 
4)        Online Tutorials.

Other functionalities include:
Interactive Network Map
The aim of this tool is to provide an online space for rural bioeconomy stakeholders to reach others with the aim of facilitating networking and cooperation.

Geoportal
The BioRural Toolkit offers access to a Geoportal, which presents geospatial information available for Europe to be displayed on the map. The information includes: (1) biodegradable municipal waste theoretical potential, (2) food waste theoretical potential, (3) forest theoretical potential, (4) manure theoretical potential, and (5) straw theoretical potential.

The BioRural project, funded under Horizon Europe, aimed to accelerate the transition to a circular bioeconomy. Through a combination of multi-actor engagement, success stories, surveys, national grassroots workshops, innovation challenges, knowledge exchange initiatives and the creation of the European Rural Bioeconomy Network (ERBN), BioRural has developed 23 practical policy briefs to help accelerate the circular  transition, this includes:

• 12 Horizontal briefs that are applicable to the Bioeconomy Strategy and includes recommendations that apply across the entire bioeconomy, cutting across multiple sectors.
• 11 Specific briefs offering targeted recommendations for key bioeconomy sectors and value chain stages.

The policy briefs include a variety of topics including enabling frameworks for smart farming, circular business models, modular biorefineries, bioenergy villages, and urban-rural resource loops, as well as system-wide recommendations to align funding, governance, and regulatory instruments such as the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and Waste Directive.

Each policy brief is structured around: 

• A clearly defined challenge
• Supporting evidence from EU-funded projects, regional case studies, and stakeholder consultations;
• Specific and actionable policy recommendations at both EU and Member State levels;
• Expected impacts
• Key future research needs to strengthen the evidence base and support policy innovation. 

By supporting collaboration, reducing regulatory and administrative barriers, and aligning funding mechanisms with circular and inclusive innovation models, policymakers can unlock the full potential of rural Europe to lead the bioeconomy transition. BioRural presents a practical and coherent set of policy briefs in this deliverable to do just that — ensuring that the benefits of the green transition are not only technologically feasible but also socially and geographically equitable. 

All policy briefs are accessible through the BioRural Toolkit.

• D3.5 Guidelines for future Bioeconomy research and policy

Facilitation of knowledge exchange and capacity building for the European rural Bioeconomy stands out as one of the main Objectives of BioRural. In this context 4 two-day regional workshops and 1 European Bioeconomy Challenge were designed and carried out aspiring to achieve a two-fold scope. Provide support in developing and scaling rural bio-based solutions and generate exchanges and create cross-fertilisation and cross-border collaborations.

During the workshops, stakeholders from all over Europe presented and evolved their proposed bio-based solutions, via receiving high quality training and tailored mentorship. Knowledge and experience exchange sessions, as an integral part of the workshops, offered participants the opportunity to enhance their insights regarding current state-of-the-art with respect to rural circular Bioeconomy, expand their networks and investigate potential synergies. Participants pitched their bio-based solutions, incorporating key workshop inputs, and the three winners per workshop were awarded to receive further practical support to develop their solutions. A total of 45 bio-based solutions from 16 European countries participated in the workshops and 12 bio-based solutions were awarded.

The European Bioeconomy Challenge was held in Brussels, on 12th of May 2025, bringing together the 12 winning bio-based solutions to pitch once again their ideas, aiming to provide additional visibility and further promote networking and B2B interconnections. The three outstanding bio-based solutions were awarded and are presented below: 1st place: Proservation, 2nd place: NonStop Food, 3rd place: Noema

Notably, the three solutions stood out for their originality and scalability. These solutions garnered attention due to their innovative approaches, market readiness, and potential impact on intensifying the EU’s circular economy efforts.

• D3.4 Cross-border collaboration results

Oxygen of Agrafa is a Social Cooperative Enterprise based in the mountainous Agrafa region of Greece that addresses two significant rural challenges: the abandonment of forest infrastructure and the lack of sustainable income opportunities for residents. The project seizes the opportunity to transform these challenges through community-based circular tourism and sustainable forestry practices.

The main innovation lies in revitalising historical forest trails using local knowledge, environmentally respectful restoration methods, and community participation. Trails are cleaned, maintained, and signposted, making them safe and attractive for hikers, cyclists, or climbers. This not only brings direct income to local service providers (guides, guesthouses, food producers) but also generates seasonal and permanent jobs for youth and underemployed residents in trail maintenance and cultural event organisation.

In parallel, Oxygen of Agrafa promotes forest conservation by educating visitors and locals about biodiversity and microclimate protection, using non-invasive techniques in forest work. They also plan to certify local agri-food products, connecting nature-based tourism with local gastronomy, further closing the loop in the rural bioeconomy.

For practitioners, this model shows that small, remote forest communities can mobilise resources, create jobs, and protect the environment through relatively low-cost actions: trail maintenance, local storytelling, product branding, and cross-sectoral collaboration. The cooperative model keeps profits local, builds social capital, and supports long-term forest health and tourism-based income.

Practitioners elsewhere can adopt this approach by mapping local trails, involving residents in maintenance and storytelling, and integrating tourism with sustainable land management.

• YouTube video of major Greek TV channel covering Oxygen of Agrafa (Oxygono Agra…
• Social media group (Facebook)

Protiberia, founded in 2022 in Castilla‑La Mancha, Spain, has become a benchmark in circular agriculture by farming Tenebrio molitor (mealworm) larvae for sustainable protein production. The first market niche to establish the company has been the production of larvae for use as fishing bait and as feed in the poultry industry. The company has established a first production farm, and has designed a vertical innovative system to expand its activity.

Its standout innovation lies in the decentralized “Protigranja” model, which is currently under implantation. The company breeds eggs and neonates in-house and supplies them—along with technical support and equipment—to local farmers, who are only responsible for the fattening phase. Once the larvae reach maturity, Protiberia collects, processes, and markets them into high-value products such as protein meal, insect fat, chitin, and a nutrient-rich organic fertilizer known as frass.

By combining scalable insect farming with farmer-friendly integration services, Protiberia empowers rural entrepreneurs to turn underutilized spaces into productive insect farms. The typical return of investment is estimated in 6 year. Through research partnerships, digital monitoring tools, and ongoing innovation, Protiberia is shaping a future where insects are key players in the circular economy

Protiberia already demonstrates circularity by feeding larvae with agri-food byproducts like wheat bran, fruit pulp, and vegetable waste. But the company is going further by incorporating harder-to-recycle residues into insect diets—especially spent mushroom substrate (SMS), a byproduct of mushroom farming. Located in one of Spain’s main mushroom-producing regions, Protiberia has shown that up to 40% SMS can be used in larval feed without negatively impacting growth, lowering input costs while solving an environmental problem.

• Promo video Protiberia Vision and mision(Spanish)
• Short TV presentation of Protiberia (Spanish)
• Interview Protiberia and use of agri-food by-products for the insect farms (ENG…

The Danish Bioeconomy sector encompasses the food and agriculture sector, forestry, water, bioenergy and biomaterials sector employing 166,300 people and an added value of €17.4 billion.
The largest bioeconomy sector in Denmark in terms of added value is bio-based chemicals, pharmaceuticals etc. with €6.1 billion added value. In terms of employment the agriculture and food sector is accounting for the majority. Agriculture is employing 60 thousand and food industry is employing 59 thousand people.
The Danish bioeconomy is still largely dependent on linear production systems though increasing focus and efforts are being made towards circular sustainable production systems. For the agriculture and food sectors there is a focus on reducing the import of feed and ingredients and instead increase the production of local alternatives that can replace the import.
In recent years, the pharmaceutical sector has grown significant and become a large and very important part of the Danish economy.
Examples of bio-based solutions from Denmark:
CBIO Aarhus University Centre for Circular Bioeconomy. https://cbio.au.dk/en/ 
Green protein to replace soy in feed. https://ausumgaard.dk/ 
Danish Marine Protein. https://www.vja.dk/vores-gronne-omstilling/danish-marine-protein/
EcoCocon straw panels. https://https://ecococon.eu/dk/ 
Sound barriers made from wood. https://pilebyg.dk/en/accoustic-barriers-and-sound-barriers/.
Ny Vraa Willow compost. https://nyvraa.dk/pilekompost/ 
For more information, please consult the BioRural toolkit. 

The Biobased Economy occupies an important place in the circular economy and is an extensive and joint task for government, industry and knowledge institutions. It offers new opportunities for business and could become one of the spearheads of the national economy. Especially as the Netherlands is strong in chemicals, agro-food and logistics, the Biobased Economy is one of the ways in which the Netherlands can achieve green growth.

Thanks to its well-developed agricultural, transport and chemical sectors, the Netherlands has laid a very solid foundation for developing a successful bio-economy. Existing sustainability agreements between these sectors under the Top Sector Policy and the energy transition provide solid guidance for the development of the bio-economy.

The European Rural Bioeconomy Network (ERBN) is a growing community initiated by the EU-funded BioRural project, bringing together over 570 members across Europe between 2023 and 2025. This diverse community includes research centers, innovation advisors, agro-industrial stakeholders, tech-based SMEs, knowledge transfer agents in the agri-food and forestry sectors as well as practitioners (primary sector stakeholders willing to know more about circular bioeconomy (CB) solutions. Members join to share their innovations, profile their expertise, and access practical solutions in CB tailored for rural areas.

Building upon this foundation, the thERBN project is transforming this community into a long-term, multi-actor thematic network focused on CB solutions able to solve the management of the organic by-products and residues of the primary sector. With a strong emphasis on biobased innovations thERBN project continues the role of BioRural to provide practical tools, accessible knowledge, and opportunities for collaboration between practitioners and innovation agents.

The ERBN aims to bridge the gap between research and practice, support decarbonisation, and enhance rural resilience, especially for small farms, cooperatives, and forestry SMEs, who often lack access to tailored innovation. 

It is a network for actively sharing CB solutions addressing bottom-up needs, by showcasing existing good practices from Operational Groups and EU/national projects, and creating practice-ready materials in multiple languages. These will be shared via EU-FarmBook, EU CAP Network, and the dedicated ERBN platform to support innovation adoption across rural Europe. 

The thematic ERBN is starting to be constructed in 8 EU countries (ES, IT, FR, RO, GR, SK, PL, LT) through hubs closely aligned with the national AKIS (Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems) and advisory and knowledge transfer networks, to further promote direct access to applicable, tested CB solutions.

• The BioRural and ERBN toolkit – Community and resources

France is a key player in the European bioeconomy, contributing 18% to the continent's agricultural production. With 28 million hectares dedicated to diverse crops and the largest EU cattle herd, generating €72.8 billion in annual revenue, France's agriculture sector is a major force. Forests, covering over 16 million hectares, and fisheries and aquaculture, with an exclusive economic zone of 10.2 million square kilometers, also play pivotal roles. The biobased chemicals and materials sector provides around 25,000 jobs, while bioenergy constitutes 60% of renewable energy production. Waste management, employing 120,000 people, contributes approximately €17 billion annually.

Looking ahead, the French bioeconomy has the potential to create over 90,000 jobs in the next two decades. The education sector, with approximately 800 establishments, is prepared to adapt to meet the rising demand for skilled workers in emerging bioeconomy sectors. The country laid the groundwork for a comprehensive bioeconomy strategy in 2015, involving key ministries, to address market realities, promote sustainable biobased solutions, and engage in societal dialogue. Therefore, France stands as a bioeconomy leader, leveraging its vast biomass potential across agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and more, with a strategic vision for a sustainable and innovative future.

The German government defines the bioeconomy as the production, use and application of biological resources, processes and systems to provide products, processes and services across all economic sectors as part of a future-oriented economy. The current national bioeconomy strategy focuses on "sustainability" and "climate action" as key issues for economic activity. It links the ecologically sustainable consumption of natural resources with economic prosperity and the right to future development of future generations. 
In Germany, 3.1-3.6 million people are employed in the bioeconomy. This corresponds to about 9 % of all employed persons in the total economy and generates between 165 and 265 billion euros. 
The current Bioeconomy Strategy centers on sustainability and climate actions as the key issues of economic action to avoid considerable damage to the biosphere ending all live on earth. 
The strategy builds on the National Research Strategy BioEconomy 2030 and the National Policy Strategy Bioeconomy in order to bundle the various political strands into a coherent framework. 
With the Strategy, the German Federal Government wants to mirror global responsibility for future generations. Biological knowledge and advanced technology are main pillars of the National Research Strategy BioEconomy 2030. An essential part of research is technical-innovation in combination with social, political and economic research to accompany the profound societal transformation process. The research focus is on diverse organism and biological processes  
The National Policy Strategy on Bioeconomy relates to the raw materials used by industry and the need for a sustainable and circular economy based on the use of biogenic resources.

The Greek Bioeconomy sector encompasses food and agriculture sector, forestry, water, bioenergy and biomaterials sector employing 672,000 people and an added value of €12 billion. The main bioeconomy sector in Greece is food and agriculture accounting for the majority of biomass supply (around 90%) and use (for food and feed) as well as employment and turnover. These are still largely dependent on linear production systems though increasing efforts are being made towards the sustainable use towards sustainable production.
Several policies have been developed supporting bioeconomy including the Greek Smart Specialization Strategy, The Greek National Strategy on Circular Economy, The National Energy and Climate Action Plan for 2030 and the 2050 Roadmap
Improved knowledge on the status of the bioeconomy in Greece, its trajectory and associated innovations will help citizens, entrepreneurs and policy makers to transition to a circular bioeconomy, for more information please consult the BioRural toolkit. There are a range of rural small scale success stories and biobased solutions already available in Greece, studying these and the lessons they provide can provide valuable practical lessons for entrepreneurs and policy makers and support the transformation of the Greek economy.
Examples of these solutions include Klimis (a company producing bio-briquettes from olive kernels), Staramaki (a social enterprise producing drinking straws from natural wheat stems), ESEK (a local energy cooperative that produces its own pellets), Kafsimo (an innovative coffee waste collection system in Thessaloniki), BlueCycle (initiative that reuses plastic waste), Liofyllo (company that produces biobased materials from olive leaves).

The Italian bioeconomy, faces a variety of challenges.

A complex and sometimes contradictory regulatory frameworks is slowing down innovation and investment in bio-based industries.

Problems in securing adequate funding for bio-based research, development, and commercialization projects is challenging due to economic constraints bureaucratic hurdles and unawareness of financial institutions.

There is a need for greater collaboration between research organizations, industry, and government to accelerate the development and commercialization of bio-based technologies and products.

Addressing these challenges will require coordinated efforts from policymakers, industry stakeholders, research institutions, and civil society to create an enabling environment for the sustainable growth of Italy's bioeconomy.

The Biorural toolkit could be a starting point to work on reducing some of the problems and to raise awareness on stakeholders and policy makers.

The Latvian Bioeconomy sector encompasses the food and agriculture sector, forestry and wood production, bioenergy and biomaterials sector employing 124 600 people and an added value of € 2.8 billion.
The largest bioeconomy sector in Latvia in 2020 was the ‘forestry and wood production’ sector with € 1.3 billion added value (making 46.3% of total value added) and employing 45.96 thousand people. Currently, Latvia ranks 4th among European countries in terms of forest area per person.
In 2020, another large bioeconomy sector 'food and agriculture' employed 69.62 thousand people, making 44.5% of total number of people employed in all bioeconomy sectors. Value added per person employed in this sector amounted to € 18 thousand in 2020. Currently, Latvia ranks 2nd among European countries in terms of agricultural land area per person.
Examples of small scale bio-based solutions from Latvia:
Research Institute of Agronomy: [Small-scale investment agroforestry systems]
AS “Smiltenes piens”:[Producing milk whey protein drink from production residues]
SIA “Valmiermuižas alus”: [The use of ladder in the production of food products]
SIA “Eco Zeme”: [Processing organic waste to create earthworm compost – biohumus]
AS “Biolat”: [Pine and spruce needles are processed into extracts and concentrates of extractive substances]
SIA “Field and Forest”: [Essential oils and extracts production from plant processing residues]
SIA “Aloja Starkelsen”:  [Production of organic potato starch]
AS “Madara Cosmetics”:  [Cosmetics of  extracts of natural origin plants grown in the Baltics]

Lithuanian bioeconomy generated about EUR 4.2 billion of value-added and employed around 174 thousand people in 2020. The bioeconomy accounts for nearly 7% of Lithuania’s GDP. Lithuania is one of the EU countries that is most self-sufficient in biomass. The agriculture and food industries, as well as the manufacture of wood products and bio-based furniture are the largest bioeconomy industries (altogether generating about 80% of the total value added and providing 85% of the total employment in Lithuania’s bioeconomy).
In recent years, several national policies promoting the development of the bioeconomy have been prepared, including the National Energy and Climate Action Plan of the Republic of Lithuania for the years 2021-2030, the Lithuanian National Strategic Plan of the CAP (2022), and Lithuanian Smart Specialization (2022). 
Knowledge of Lituania's bioeconomy status and the success of small-scale biobased solutions will help farmers, entrepreneurs and policymakers to transition to a circular bioeconomy in rural areas. For more information please consult the BioRural toolkit. 
Examples of these solutions include Garlic Moon (a family business that ferments garlic and produces food products from black garlic), Agaras (a company that produces high-quality beef and recycles the waste from cattle slaughter and processing into biogas), Acheta (a family business that grows crickets and processes them into food products), Amberry, (an organic family farm that grows sea buckthorn, produces juice food additives from berry pomace).
 

Imagine tackling the issue of food waste head-on by turning what would normally be discarded into something valuable. This project focuses on using spent grains from beer production, which are rich in dietary fibers, to create delicious and nutritious food products. It's all about transforming waste into opportunity and promoting sustainability.

We have come up with some pretty innovative solutions as we developed technology to process these spent grains into tasty items like crackers, pasta, and bread. Not only does this reduce waste, but it also brings new, fiber-rich products to the market. It's a win-win for both the environment and consumers looking for healthier options.

These technologies and processes can be adopted to make use of spent grains and other by-products in most food productions. It's a great way to turn waste into something valuable.

There might be some initial costs for investing in the necessary technology and training staff. But think about the savings from reduced waste disposal expenses and the potential new revenue from innovative products.

The benefits are huge! It reduces environmental impact, boosting sustainability credentials, and creating new, marketable food products. This can attract more consumers and potentially expand the market.

By embracing these solutions, anyone can contribute to a more sustainable food system while also reaping economic benefits. It's a smart move for anyone in the food industry!

• Linkedin profile

North Macedonia is an agriculture oriented country. In 2021 agribusiness contributed 7.6% to the GDP and with 11.5% in the overall employment, including agriculture, forestry and fisheries. 9.6 % of North Macedonia's total exported goods were agricultural and food products mainly to the EU (50.6 %) and CEFTA countries (32%). 47.5 % of the country's total agricultural imports were from the EU and 17.6 % from the UK.

There are approximately 1.1 million ha of forests in North Macedonia distinguished by a high biodiversity, low quality and slow yearly growth. Around 90% of them are deciduous. The public enterprise "National Forests" controls over 90% of the forestland on behalf of the government and the remaining forest area is privately owned. More than 70% of forests are coppiced. A very substantial portion of the area classified as forestland is a Mediterranean-style forest with smaller trees and plants.

Fish production and catch are based on aquaculture production (92.9%), commercial fishing (5.8%) and recreational fishing (only 1.3%). In 2021 1 815 million fish eggs were produced and juvenile fish with a total weight of 132 403 kg. Of the fish species, rainbow trout is the most bred in the country. The most utilized methods of fish farming are fishponds (10655 ha), cages (6625 m3) and tanks and raceways (9980 m3).

Biomass in North Macedonia is an independent energy source and accounts for 6% of the total primary energy production in the country. The most used biomass resource in North Macedonia is wood. North Macedonia has great potential for using biogas from animal manure and vegetable crops.

North Macedonia`s bio-based industry is in its very early stages of development with very few small-scaled bio-based production capacities.

Poland has a strong potential in the production of raw materials for bioeconomy, especially from agricultural and forestry sectors. It has leading position in EU regarding the largest utilised agricultural area, and one of the largest areas of wooded land and growing stock of forests.

Agricultural biomass represents the greatest potential for the Polish bioeconomy. Plant production is the main branch of Polish agriculture, comprising mainly cereals (7,410,500 ha) and oil plants (1,039,300 ha). An important element of plant production is also the vegetable and fruit growing.

Poland has a large residual biomass potential. The surplus of straw, taking into account the local straw-manure exchange between farms, amounts to 7,199.2K t. The total potential of manure from livestock farms amounts at 11M t. Agri-food processing also generates large amounts of organic waste that can be used in the production of biofuels, animal feed or nutrient recovering.

Aquaculture sector, recognized by the European Green Deal as a source of “low carbon” protein for food and feed, represents 0.2 % of value added in Polish bioeconomy.

There is still unused potential in the majority of bioeconomy sectors in Poland, for instance, renewable energy sector development. The biomass streams from agriculture, forestry and hunting, fisheries & aquaculture offer adequate potential for advanced energy use. Although several national policies refer directly or indirectly to the bioeconomy, Poland is still in need of a dedicated strategy for bioeconomy development, to adequately use the untapped potential of the above sectors.

Nestled along the Iberian Peninsula, Portugal boasts a wealth of natural resources, fertile agricultural lands, and a dynamic marine ecosystem, providing a fertile ground for a thriving rural bioeconomy. This burgeoning sector harnesses biological resources to produce a diverse range of products and services, positioning Portugal as a frontrunner in sustainable development.

Driven by innovation and investment, Portugal's bio-based industry is experiencing remarkable growth. A surge of bio-based companies is emerging, developing cutting-edge products and processes utilising biological resources. These companies are leveraging Portugal's strong scientific and technological base, as well as its access to raw materials and potential markets.

Government initiatives like the Sustainable Bieconomy Action Plan (SBAP) are also actively supporting bioeconomy development, providing financial incentives and regulatory frameworks to encourage bio-based businesses and research. The bioeconomy's potential to generate employment, reduce environmental impact, and promote social equity is undeniable. As Portugal continues to invest in innovation and collaboration, the bioeconomy will undoubtedly play a transformative role in shaping the country's economic landscape and contributing to a healthier, more sustainable future.

This initiative addresses the challenge of agricultural waste and the growing demand for sustainable, plastic-free packaging. Farmers often have waste materials like straw, husks, or stalks, which are typically burned or left unused. At the same time, companies are looking for recyclable packaging alternatives that reduce their environmental footprint.
Results/Innovative Solutions: The project shows that agricultural residues can be transformed into paper-based packaging materials. This solution helps reduce waste on farms, lowers dependence on wood, and supports climate-friendly production. The research also confirms that packaging made from agro-waste is often biodegradable or compostable, which makes it attractive for food producers, retailers, and eco-conscious brands.
Practical Implications for Farmers/Foresters: Farmers can turn agricultural by-products into an extra source of income by selling residues to processing companies. This creates new business opportunities, especially in regions where large volumes of straw or other fibres are produced. Costs for farmers are minimal, as they are mostly using materials that would otherwise go to waste. Benefits include diversified income, less waste burning, and contributing to the bioeconomy. However, for successful implementation, cooperation with processing companies and ensuring consistent supply are important. For end-users like packaging companies, this offers access to a renewable, locally sourced material, which helps meet sustainability targets and responds to consumer demand for eco-friendly products.
In short, this innovation creates a win-win situation: less waste for farmers, new income streams, and sustainable packaging.
 

• Website

Romania is a country endowed with a large variety of natural resources (forests, natural gas, fertile agricultural lands—7.5% of utilized agricultural area in EU—brown coal and lignite, crude oil, salt, mineral, silver, gold, and hydrological networks). The country has a pronounced rural and agrarian profile. 
Agriculture and the forestry sectors are the biggest producers of domestic biomass. The bioeconomy is the sector that is the most  important in terms of  share in  the  active population. However, the  economic sectors that produce primary bioresources (agriculture,  forestry  and fishing) and the  industries that are processing  these  bioresources  with relatively low added value predominate.
While the availability of biomass from primary sectors or production processes is a strong asset, its logistics are challenging in each of the sectors. 
A strategy on bioeconomy has not yet been released, but there are various policy initiatives towards bioeconomy. Romania recognizes the importance of bioeconomy and the necessity of finding the optimal balance between meeting the food needs of a growing population and the increasing demand for biomass for chemicals and energy.

The Slovenian bioeconomy, which was worth €3 billion in 2020 and employed 115.8 thousand people, is characterised by a small-scale and fragmented production structure in primary sectors with low labour productivity. The same applies to the conventional manufacturing industry, which mainly operates in the SME sector. The potential for value creation from residual materials and by-products in production, processing and consumption remains largely untapped. 
Building a resilient, circular and sustainable bioeconomy requires a broad public consensus on the strategic importance of the bioeconomy and institutional consolidation. Recently established Slovenian Bioeconomy Hub will serve as dynamic platform for collaboration, innovation, and knowledge transfer, supporting the development of national bioeconomy and creating opportunities for more complex (cross-sector) value chains and business models that enhance biomass flows along the value chain.
Despite currently lacking dedicated national Bioeconomy strategy and Action Plan, Slovenia has many policies addressing the bioeconomy. Among national strategic documents, the following can be pointed out: Slovenian Sustainable Smart Specialisation Strategy 2021–27 (MGRT, 2022), Slovenian Development Strategy 2030 (Šooš, 2017), Slovenian Industrial Strategy 2030 (MGRT, 2021), Comprehensive National Energy and Climate Plan 2030 (Celoviti nacionalni energetski in podnebni načrt Republike Slovenije, 2020), and National Development Strategy of Agriculture and Food System (MKGP, 2021). Bioeconomy is also strongly represented in the major inter-ministerial initiative, called Comprehensive Strategic Project for Decarbonising Slovenia. 

The Spanish Bioeconomy sector encompasses the food and agriculture sector, forestry, water, bioenergy and biomaterials sectors, which employ in total 1.44 Millon people, generating an added value of €69 billion. Spanish Bioeconomy market represents near 6 to 7% GDP, and 9% of total national employment.
The main bioeconomy sector in Spain (according to turnover) is the food, feed and beverages (55.8%) and agriculture (23.5%) sectors accounting also for the majority of biomass supply and use. 
Forest and shrublands represent 50.1% of the Spanish surface, being agriculture 47.1%. However forestry represents barely 1% of Spanish turnover. Bioeconomy growth brings a good opportunity for revitalising this sector. 
In general bioeconomy trend is growing, though a deceleration occurred after 2008 (due to the Global Financial Crisis – GFC), recovered shortly afterwards in terms of turnover figures. 
Rural areas, sourcing the forestry and agriculture product, are currently facing the challenge of the aged population. Bioeconomy growth is a opportunity for these areas.

Olive oil production generates large amounts of washing wastewater, which is traditionally evaporated—costly and inefficient. In Canena (Jaén, Spain), the San Isidro cooperative, made up of 300 olive farmers, sought to transform this waste stream into a resource by reusing it for irrigation. The challenge was twofold: to make the wastewater technically suitable for irrigation systems and to convince irrigation communities of its safety and benefit.

Early trials caused irrigation system clogging and reluctance from irrigation network managers. The breakthrough came in 2010 with the installation of a robust automatic filtration system (AZUD Helix Automatic), reducing solids above 100μm. This upgrade made the water compatible with local drip systems. In 2011, after community consultation and technical assurances, one irrigation community agreed to use the water. Success led to broader acceptance. By 2021, the SUBALMA EIP-AGRI Operational Group was formed with stakeholders including the cooperative, tech provider AZUD, CEBAS-CSIC (research), ASAJA, and local government. The group tested fertigation using this water in subsurface precision irrigation. Results in 2023 confirmed the filtered wastewater improved olive yields, reduced fertiliser use, caused no system damage, and cut wastewater management costs. This validated its circular potential.

This success case shows how olive mills and cooperatives can reuse washing wastewater for fertigation—closing loops in both water and nutrients. Subsurface and surface drip systems can be compatible if filtering is properly managed. Initial investment (filters, special nozzles) may be a barrier, especially in existing systems. However, new systems can easily integrate it. The case underlines the value of long-term collaboration, technical validation, and demonstration projects. With support from farmer organisations and local authorities, replication is already starting and expected to expand regionally.

• Youtube video of SUBALMA project and subsurface irrigation system
• Operational Group SUBALMA webpage