Periodic Reporting for period 1 - BBioNets (Creation and promotion of Forest and Agriculture Networks to boost Bio-Based Technologies adoption and Value Chain development)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2023-11-01 do 2025-04-30
BBioNets is a thematic network that relies on, promotes and further advances the work carried out by EIP-AGRI Operational Groups (OGs) and other types of projects, with respect to the management and/or processing of agricultural and forest biomass with Bio-Based Technologies (BBTs). BBTs are technologies or practices that use non-food feedstock, circularity principles or both to deliver diverse products.
The objective is to promote grassroots initiatives such as OGs at the heart of change, and to incite primary producers all over Europe to embrace and adopt BBTs. This will enable them to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, make better use of underutilised biomass, create new diversified incomes, reduce costs through circular practices, increase farm/forest sustainable management, and create/develop new value chains.
The objective is to promote grassroots initiatives such as OGs at the heart of change, and to incite primary producers all over Europe to embrace and adopt BBTs. This will enable them to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, make better use of underutilised biomass, create new diversified incomes, reduce costs through circular practices, increase farm/forest sustainable management, and create/develop new value chains.
M18 - BBioNets’ Methodological Approach & Progress:
The project advanced through several steps that were in no way linear, but rather circular, closely interconnected:
- 6 regional Forest and Agriculture Networks (FANs): a multi-stakeholder approach on the ground envisioned as a two-way cooperation with the consortium. Established in Ireland, Spain, Italy, Greece, Poland and the Czech Republic, they assemble representatives across the quintuple helix, with emphasis on farmers’ and foresters’ representation through individuals or associations. The FANs bring into play their local actors’ know-how and expertise of regional realities, and assist the consortium to achieve its targets both by providing actionable knowledge and validating the final results. Their well-established networks have and will continue to be used to ensure wide participation in regional activities and far-reaching dissemination of all pertinent outcomes. (https://bbionets.eu/fans(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie))
- Bio-Based Technology (BBT) Inventory: knowledge collection, packaged in the form of an inventory that provides easy access to information on BBTs identified across EIP- AGRI Operational Groups (OGs) and EU-funded projects and initiatives. It presents farmers and foresters with sustainable alternatives to and is freely accessible on the BBioNets Knowledge Platform. (https://bbionets-platform.eu/operational-groups-inventory(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie))
- High-level study of regional dynamics: a thorough description of a) OG-identified and locally applied BBT practices, b) awareness level in terms of available BBT solutions, their economic and environmental benefits, as well as barriers preventing their adoption, and c) regional dynamics, maturity and potential. The study is used as a baseline for project activities. (https://bbionets-platform.eu/regional-dynamics(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie))
- BBTs Assessment tool: a proposed prioritisation of the most appropriate BBTs for each represented region, offering sustainable alternatives to farmers and foresters. The tool is closely interlinked to a) the Bio-Based Technology (BBT) Inventory, b) the high-level study of regional dynamics, c) and FAN interactions (workshops) aiming initially at the identification of regional needs and challenges, and, subsequently, the validation of the high-level study findings and proposed BBTs prioritisation. The tool is designed in a way that the more information the user provides, the more accurate the results are in terms of suggested BBT prioritisation per region. (https://bbionets-platform.eu/bbts-assessment-tool(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie))
- 6 Roadmaps for Bio-Based Technologies implementation: 6 pathways for each FAN to follow in order to effectively and efficiently implement BBTs appropriate for its territory. Those Roadmaps are the culminating result of the previously described steps, featuring the 5 BBTs (among the top 20 prioritised per region by the Assessment tool) that could be most easily implemented at the regional level, taking into account the current regional dynamics and the characteristics of the technologies.
- Educational and Training Material: all knowledge on BBTs collected across OGs and EU-funded projects has been analysed for several BBioNets purposes, notably the Bio-Based Technology (BBT) Inventory. Based on each region’s specific needs (emerging from the high-level study of regional dynamics and FAN interactions), pertinent knowledge is to be packaged in useful and appealing material for farmers and foresters. Within the first period, 8 articles (https://bbionets.eu/press-corner-articles/(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie)) and 20 Practice Abstracts (https://shorturl.at/S2znH(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie)) have been produced.
- BBioNets Knowledge Platform: the wider public’s gateway to all BBioNets outcomes. (https://bbionets-platform.eu/(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie))
- Standing Liaison Round Table (SLRT): a platform designed and established to go beyond individual partnerships and bring together multiple EU-funded projects. With a focus on primary producers and the circular bioeconomy, the SLRT encourages joint activities and helps participants align on a long-term strategy through a collective roadmap. This approach amplifies the impact of each project by ensuring that results reach a wider audience, enhances efficiency, and advances cross-fertilisation. (https://bbionets.eu/about-synergies-slrt/(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie))
The project advanced through several steps that were in no way linear, but rather circular, closely interconnected:
- 6 regional Forest and Agriculture Networks (FANs): a multi-stakeholder approach on the ground envisioned as a two-way cooperation with the consortium. Established in Ireland, Spain, Italy, Greece, Poland and the Czech Republic, they assemble representatives across the quintuple helix, with emphasis on farmers’ and foresters’ representation through individuals or associations. The FANs bring into play their local actors’ know-how and expertise of regional realities, and assist the consortium to achieve its targets both by providing actionable knowledge and validating the final results. Their well-established networks have and will continue to be used to ensure wide participation in regional activities and far-reaching dissemination of all pertinent outcomes. (https://bbionets.eu/fans(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie))
- Bio-Based Technology (BBT) Inventory: knowledge collection, packaged in the form of an inventory that provides easy access to information on BBTs identified across EIP- AGRI Operational Groups (OGs) and EU-funded projects and initiatives. It presents farmers and foresters with sustainable alternatives to and is freely accessible on the BBioNets Knowledge Platform. (https://bbionets-platform.eu/operational-groups-inventory(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie))
- High-level study of regional dynamics: a thorough description of a) OG-identified and locally applied BBT practices, b) awareness level in terms of available BBT solutions, their economic and environmental benefits, as well as barriers preventing their adoption, and c) regional dynamics, maturity and potential. The study is used as a baseline for project activities. (https://bbionets-platform.eu/regional-dynamics(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie))
- BBTs Assessment tool: a proposed prioritisation of the most appropriate BBTs for each represented region, offering sustainable alternatives to farmers and foresters. The tool is closely interlinked to a) the Bio-Based Technology (BBT) Inventory, b) the high-level study of regional dynamics, c) and FAN interactions (workshops) aiming initially at the identification of regional needs and challenges, and, subsequently, the validation of the high-level study findings and proposed BBTs prioritisation. The tool is designed in a way that the more information the user provides, the more accurate the results are in terms of suggested BBT prioritisation per region. (https://bbionets-platform.eu/bbts-assessment-tool(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie))
- 6 Roadmaps for Bio-Based Technologies implementation: 6 pathways for each FAN to follow in order to effectively and efficiently implement BBTs appropriate for its territory. Those Roadmaps are the culminating result of the previously described steps, featuring the 5 BBTs (among the top 20 prioritised per region by the Assessment tool) that could be most easily implemented at the regional level, taking into account the current regional dynamics and the characteristics of the technologies.
- Educational and Training Material: all knowledge on BBTs collected across OGs and EU-funded projects has been analysed for several BBioNets purposes, notably the Bio-Based Technology (BBT) Inventory. Based on each region’s specific needs (emerging from the high-level study of regional dynamics and FAN interactions), pertinent knowledge is to be packaged in useful and appealing material for farmers and foresters. Within the first period, 8 articles (https://bbionets.eu/press-corner-articles/(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie)) and 20 Practice Abstracts (https://shorturl.at/S2znH(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie)) have been produced.
- BBioNets Knowledge Platform: the wider public’s gateway to all BBioNets outcomes. (https://bbionets-platform.eu/(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie))
- Standing Liaison Round Table (SLRT): a platform designed and established to go beyond individual partnerships and bring together multiple EU-funded projects. With a focus on primary producers and the circular bioeconomy, the SLRT encourages joint activities and helps participants align on a long-term strategy through a collective roadmap. This approach amplifies the impact of each project by ensuring that results reach a wider audience, enhances efficiency, and advances cross-fertilisation. (https://bbionets.eu/about-synergies-slrt/(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie))
- Forest and Agriculture Networks (FANs): acting as regional AKIS knowledge hubs, they contribute to the overall aim of building a more informed, interconnected and engaged AKIS community.
- Educational and Training Material: increased knowledge of BBTs and the circular bioeconomy across society, regardless of background. Targeted and applicable information for primary producers, assisting them in making more sustainable choices.
- Bio-Based Technology (BBT) Inventory and BBTs Assessment tool: valuable resources that include cost-benefit considerations, presenting sustainable alternatives in agricultural and forestry practices.
- Standing Liaison Round Table (SLRT): a platform for long-term collaboration among projects, potentially envisioned as a Thematic Network rallying point.
- Overall strategy and dissemination/communication of the project: promotion of Operational Groups as a substantive tool at the hands of farmers and foresters to resolve pressing matters in a specific context. Enhanced visibility of the bioeconomy potential in combating desertification in forestry and agriculture and in offering employment opportunities.
- Key needs: greater transparency, clear guidelines, and focused training on economic considerations to facilitate technology uptake in the primary sector. Aknowledgement of primary producers as vital stakeholders of the current economy to be accompanied with a comprehensive educational approach integrating environmental, societal, and economic sustainability.
- Educational and Training Material: increased knowledge of BBTs and the circular bioeconomy across society, regardless of background. Targeted and applicable information for primary producers, assisting them in making more sustainable choices.
- Bio-Based Technology (BBT) Inventory and BBTs Assessment tool: valuable resources that include cost-benefit considerations, presenting sustainable alternatives in agricultural and forestry practices.
- Standing Liaison Round Table (SLRT): a platform for long-term collaboration among projects, potentially envisioned as a Thematic Network rallying point.
- Overall strategy and dissemination/communication of the project: promotion of Operational Groups as a substantive tool at the hands of farmers and foresters to resolve pressing matters in a specific context. Enhanced visibility of the bioeconomy potential in combating desertification in forestry and agriculture and in offering employment opportunities.
- Key needs: greater transparency, clear guidelines, and focused training on economic considerations to facilitate technology uptake in the primary sector. Aknowledgement of primary producers as vital stakeholders of the current economy to be accompanied with a comprehensive educational approach integrating environmental, societal, and economic sustainability.