Business models that balance the share of power and profit in the bioeconomy

The circular use of waste, by-products and residues from agriculture, forestry, and the agri-food industry can lead to the creation of new economic opportunities in rural areas. However, primary producers are often not fully integrated in bio-based value chains, and thus, benefits are not sufficiently distributed among value chain actors.

This topic addresses diverse forms of cooperation among primary producers and suitable business models to create high-value bio-based products in vertically integrated value chains via advanced biorefineries.

Proposals will:

• Examine the potential of contractual agreements or fully developed shareholder/ownership concepts (e.g. cooperatives) to create sustainable and competitive innovations in the bio-based economy through the conversion of by-products, residues and wastes from agriculture and forestry.
• Develop and promote business models for different primary production sectors in the EU that build on existing rural infrastructures, support the economies of scale, and contribute to a fair distribution of costs, benefits, and risks amongst the economic operators.
• Contribute to a better understanding of sustainable and fair biobased supply chains, synergetic points along and across agricultural, forestry and industrial value chains as well as industrial symbiosis opportunities.
• Explore existing investment options, including non-traditional sources (e.g. cross-sectoral collaborations, etc.) and identify barriers and enablers for sustainable long-term operations.
• Contribute to restoring carbon content in soil, increasing nutrients, revitalising marginal lands and ensuring food security.
• Consider further socio-economic factors, influencing farmers’ behaviour and develop indicators to assess the economic, environmental and social impacts for farmers, foresters and rural areas through increased cooperation.
• Connect with a wide range of stakeholders (farmers, foresters, industry, processors, advisors, clusters, etc.) and develop together a portfolio of research and innovation priorities that can be implemented in Horizon Europe and relevant European partnerships such as the Circular Biobased Europe.
• Promote bioeconomy-related interventions in the new CAP and provide advice and technical guidance for Member States.

Proposals shall apply the concept of the 'multi-actor approach’ and ensure adequate involvement of the farming sector, SMEs and other actors active in rural areas.

Proposals may involve financial support to third parties e.g. to primary producers, academic researchers, start-ups, SMEs, and other multidisciplinary actors, to, for instance, develop, test or validate developed applications. Consortia need to define the selection process of organisations, for which financial support may be granted. Maximum 20% of the EU funding can be allocated to this purpose.

Cooperation with other selected projects under this topic is strongly encouraged.