Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English en
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

FosterinG collaboratIon among primAry producers and beyoNd to promoTe Sustainable growth

Project description

BIOECONOMY GIANTS: empowering primary producers to lead Europe’s bioeconomy shift

Europe generates substantial volumes of agricultural, forestry and agri-food by-products that are frequently undervalued or left unexploited. Meanwhile, many farmers and foresters remain disconnected from the expanding bioeconomy. The EU-funded BIOECONOMY GIANTS project will bridge this gap by uniting primary producers with bio-based industries to co-create cooperation frameworks, strengthen value networks and develop circular business models that harness these residues. Through tailored training, financial support and innovative decision-making tools, the project will help over 80 primary producers pilot and scale new bio-based business models. It is expected to deliver over 30 new products, cut environmental impacts by 20 %, create 130 jobs and generate EUR 44 million annually, advancing Europe’s transition to a competitive, resilient and sustainable bioeconomy.

Objective

The GIANTS project aims to enhance collaboration between primary producers, rural actors, and bio-based industries to accelerate Europe's transition to a sustainable bioeconomy. Through the implementation of a robust multi-actor approach (MAA), the project fosters innovative cooperation models and circular bio-based business practices to maximize the use of agricultural, forestry, and agri-food by-products.

GIANTS addresses the pressing need to fully integrate primary producers—such as farmers and foresters—into the bioeconomy, shifting their role from being mere biomass suppliers to becoming pivotal stakeholders within the bio-based value chain. The project will engage over 80 primary producers, bringing them closer to innovative cooperative and circular bio-based business models (CCBBMs). To achieve this, GIANTS will offer the community (i) tailored capacity-building programs designed to create wider value networks, (ii) direct financial support via two Open Calls to support the piloting and scaling-up of new bio-based solutions, and (iii) dedicated decision-making tools, including Impact Shift, a well-established environmental self-assessment tool, and Coompy, a tool developed specifically within the GIANTS framework to address governance aspects of these cooperation models.

Access to the comprehensive program developed by GIANTS, along with its integrated support tools, will empower stakeholders to effectively design and implement long-term CCBBMs. These resources, working in synergy, will accelerate the introduction of 30+ new bio-based products to the market, contributing up to 20% reduction in life-cycle impacts and generating over 130 direct jobs while driving more than €44M in annual sales. By reducing reliance on fossil resources, GIANTS will play a crucial role in building a competitive, sustainable, and resilient bioeconomy across Europe.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-JU-CSA - HORIZON JU Coordination and Support Actions

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

(opens in new window) HORIZON-JU-CBE-2024

See all projects funded under this call

Coordinator

ASOCIACION CLUSTER FOOD+I
Net EU contribution
€ 443 000,00
Address
PARQUE DE LOS LIRIOS 8 PLANTA 1 PUERTA B
26006 LOGRONO
Spain
SME
Yes
Region
Noreste La Rioja La Rioja
Activity type
Other
Links
Total cost
€ 443 000,00

Participants (17)