Received: January 29, 2025; Accepted: July 24, 2025; Published: August 2, 2026

Short communication

Circular Biobased Europe Joint Undertaking: driving innovations towards sustainable agriculture and growth in rural areas

Simone Maccaferri* , Ana Ruiz Sierra , Paola Paiano, Chloe Johnson, Elina Zicmane, Virginia Puzzolo, Nicoló Giacomuzzi-Moore

Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking, White Atrium, Av de la Toison d’Or 56-60, 1060 Brussels, Belgium

*Corresponding author. Email: simone.maccaferri@cbe.europa.eu

Abstract. The Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) is a public-private partnership that supports research and innovation fostering the transition towards a competitive, sustainable, and low-carbon economy in Europe. CBE JU and its projects represent a significant business opportunity for the primary sector, and in particular for farmers. The deployment of circular bio-based innovations can help diversify farmers’ activities and generate new sources of income. Since 2022, about 130 million euros have been made available by CBE JU to develop bio-based solutions with the potential to support sustainable agricultural practices and boost rural economies. In addition, 84 entities from the primary sector are participating in CBE JU projects. The manuscript aims at analysing the major findings associated with primary producer involvement in the CBE JU programme and elaborate on the specific actions undertaken to ensure that the primary sector can benefit from participating in innovative bio-based value chains.

Keywords: bioeconomy, primary sector, biorefineries, bio-based industries, public-private partnership.

Index

1. Introduction

2. CBE JU: A public-private partnership to support the green deal objectives

3. Challenges of the primary sector integration in the biobased industry and opportunities offered by CBE JU to farmers

4. Highlights on farmer participation in CBE JU funded projects

5. Examples of CBE JU funded projects significantly involving primary producers

6. Conclusion

References

1. Introduction

The unprecedented trend of global warming, climate change, degradation of the natural ecosystems and increased pollution calls for immediate actions. In response, the European Union (EU) has put in place the European Green Deal, a growth strategy that aims to create a fair, prosperous society with a competitive and resource-efficient economy aiming to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 (European Commission, 2019).

To reach these ambitious goals, a transition from a fossil- to a bio-based economy is needed. New innovative, sustainable and circular bio-based products, that reach high technical levels of performance and fully meet market requirements, should be developed so that they can successfully replace their current fossil-based counterparts. In addition, the sustainable and local sourcing of biomass, including all types of bio-based side streams, and the reuse, recycling and upcycling of resources will play a key role in ensuring that bio-based systems are sustainable and efficient in the use of natural resources.

Building on the success of its predecessor, the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU), the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) is a pivotal instrument to implement this vision at European level, as it facilitates transition from fossil fuel dependency, aligning with the goals of the EU Green Deal within the multifaceted policy scenario that govern the bioeconomy and the bio-based sector (European Commission, 2021; Johnson et al., 2021; Mengal et al., 2018; Ruiz Sierra et al., 2021).

Policy development in the bio-based sector and in the bioeconomy area at large have received increasing attention in recent years. In April 2023, the EU Council endorsed conclusions highlighting the bioeconomy’s potential to support the environmental and climate objectives of the European Green Deal (General Secretariat of the Council, Special Committee on Agriculture, 2023). The bioeconomy is seen as a key factor in enhancing EU competitiveness, reducing fossil fuel dependency, and improving food security. In particular, the Council stressed the role of bioeconomy in fostering socially and economically viable rural areas, engaging primary producers in climate action, and promoting job creation and equal opportunities across the EU. Additionally, it emphasised the need for sustainable solutions in rural regions and the importance of providing diversified incomes for stakeholders in the bioeconomy, including landowners and small businesses, through new value-added chains and business models.

More recently, in 2024, the final report of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of Agriculture acknowledged the necessity of collaboration between public and private sectors, as strong public-private partnerships in which rural actors actively participate can help turn niche into norm to support the development and implementation of bioeconomy initiatives (Members of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture, 2024).

In addition, in 2024, the European Commission (EC) has proposed a series of targeted actions to boost biotechnology and biomanufacturing in the EU, offering innovative solutions to societal challenges (European Commission, 2024). Biotechnologies which fall into the remit of CBE JU’s field of action hold great promise for modernising not only the bio-based industrial sector but also agriculture, forestry, food and feed industries at European level.

Altogether, these important political inputs have constituted the basis for the new Bioeconomy Strategy, that was adopted in November 2025 (European Commission, 2025) and aims to advance innovation and maintain the EU’s leadership in the bioeconomy. The new Bioeconomy Strategy proposes actions to unlock the potential of bioeconomy innovations, so that they can reach the market, and will represent a major step forward in the evolving EU economic and political context. Particular attention is given to the role of the primary sector and the significance of biomass sustainability and availability for strengthening and supporting the bio-based sector across Europe.

In this overall scenario, the objective of this article is to present the activities that CBE JU has performed to ensure that primary sectors benefit from the economic, social, and environmental opportunities offered by circular and bio-based innovations, including the creation and establishment of a dedicated CBE JU working group on primary producers. Data derived from the first three years of programme implementation demonstrates how the effort that has been taken contributed to enhance the role of primary producers in circular bio-based systems and value chains. Lastly, the article is presenting cases of projects where the involvement of the primary sector is exemplary and showcase the potential impact of the primary sector in the deployment of bioeconomy, with a specific attention to the first-of-a-kind biorefineries that represent a peculiarity of CBE JU funding strategy.

2. CBE JU: A public-private partnership to support the green deal objectives

The CBE JU is a EUR 2 billion Public-Private Partnership between the EU, represented by the EC, and the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC), a not-for-profit organisation representing the private sector across the bio-based industries. It is established for the 2021-2031 period under Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation framework programme (European Commission, 2021).

Key objectives of CBE JU are to i) accelerate the innovation process and development of bio-based innovative solutions, ii) support the market deployment of mature bio-based innovative solutions and iii) ensure a high level of environmental performance of the bio-based industrial systems. In particular, CBE JU seeks to bridge the gap between the development of new bio-based innovations and their market deployment by promoting research and innovation collaborative projects which integrate stakeholders throughout bio-based value chains, including the primary sector, as vital biomass suppliers. CBE JU aims at de-risking investments, encouraging collaboration, establishing new value chains, and tackling strategic challenges to build a sustainable and prosperous bioeconomy. It ultimately contributes to boosting European competitiveness on the global scale while at the same time reducing dependency and increasing strategic autonomy.

CBE JU also aims to enhance the role of the primary sectors in the European bioeconomy with their involvement in new value chains. This is reflected across all the frameworks and activities that CBE JU is performing, from the Council Regulation establishing the Joint Undertakings to the CBE JU Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) and the CBE JU annual work programmes, which are setting the basis for the annual publication of calls for proposals (European Commission, 2021; Bio-Based Industries Consortium, 2022).

CBE JU is a central pillar in establishing Europe’s bio-based sector as a global leader, and the overall CBE JU project portfolio is composed of 220 projects, including 138 projects funded by the predecessor BBI JU and 82 projects funded by CBE JU up to call 2024. Over 1714 participants from 46 countries have been engaged in CBE JU funded projects, among which 38% are SMEs.

Aligned with Horizon Europe, the CBE JU is funding projects through open calls for proposals. In particular, early-stage development (TRLs 3–5) is funded by research and innovation actions (RIAs). Innovation actions (IAs) are represented by two different type of actions: demonstration projects (IA-DEMO) that aim at scaling up the technology and validating business cases (TRL 6–7), and flagship projects (IA-FLAG) that are operating at a pre-commercial scale (TRL 8), and aim to support innovations that have already been demonstrated but not yet applied or deployed at industrial and commercial scale in the EU (first-of-a-kind innovation). Lastly, CBE JU is funding coordination and support actions (CSAs), that address non-technological challenges, such societal awareness, capacity building, education and skills, among others. Table 1 shows the portfolio of projects funded by CBE JU (and its predecessor BBI JU) divided per type of action and with their associated budget.

The main application areas covered by the CBE JU projects are bio-based chemicals, biopolymers and bioplastics, food and feed ingredients, packaging, construction materials, crop protection and fertilisation solutions, and textile as shown in Figure 1.

The main types of feedstocks used in CBE JU projects are agriculture-based feedstock, including residues and by-products from the agri-food industry, followed by forest-based feedstock, including lignocellulosic side streams and wood residues, and finally aquatic feedstock, including aquatic organisms and biomass from fisheries and the aquaculture sector and their residues. Other relevant feedstock for CBE JU projects includes side streams from industry, including black liquor from the pulp and paper industry and dairy process side streams, as well as biowaste, including Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste (OFMSW), and biogenic gases. (see Figure 2).

It is therefore noteworthy to underline the importance of primary and secondary biomasses linked to the agricultural, forestry and marine ecosystems in the overall CBE JU portfolio, representing about 90% of the feedstocks addressed by the CBE JU projects.

3. Challenges of the primary sector integration in the biobased industry and opportunities offered by CBE JU to farmers

Enhancing business opportunities for primary producers in cooperation with the rest of the stakeholders involved in the development of new innovative bio-based value chains and promoting bioeconomy in rural areas are at the core of CBE JU’s priorities.

Farmers are recognised in the context of CBE JU as crucial actors of the value chains as they are providing biorefineries with different types of biomasses (including residues, side streams and by-products) which are converted into high-value bio-based products and materials. The economic activities along the biorefinery processes have the potential to bring new sources of income for primary producers including farmers and therefore boosting local economies in rural areas where they are located. In addition, farmers are also end-users of the innovations delivered by the CBE JU-funded projects which are developing bio-based crop protection and fertilisation solutions with a high environmental performance. These innovations include bio-based fertilisers, bio-based pesticides, biostimulants, or biodegradable and bio-based plastics used in agricultural practices. These bio-based products represent a real alternative to conventional products being more sustainable (i.e., having a reduced carbon footprint, minimising the impact on natural land, protecting soil quality and productivity, minimising the emission of chemicals) and supporting ecosystem restoration, greener agricultural practices (including organic farming), decarbonisation and reduction of EU dependency on imports of raw materials used to produce fertilisers.

In order to better understand the main challenges and opportunities for primary producers in the bioeconomy sector, a “Study on the participation of the agricultural sector in the BBI JU: Business Models, Challenges and Recommendations to enhance the impact on Rural Development” (Innovarum, 2019) has been conducted to be used as foundation for the draft of the CBE JU SRIA.

The primary sector plays a fundamental role in the deployment of circular bio-based innovations, significantly influencing the sustainability and success of the broader bio-based economy. As key suppliers of biomass, primary producers provide the essential raw materials needed for bio-based processes. At the same time, they act as both producers and end-users of bio-based products and innovations, making their engagement vital for creating fully integrated, circular value chains. Despite their potential to drive sustainability and innovation, several barriers hinder their full participation and the extent to which the primary producers can benefit from these opportunities. One of the core challenges is a lack of awareness regarding the opportunities presented by circular bio-based innovations. Many primary producers remain uninformed about how these innovations can enhance their operations, improve efficiency, and offer new revenue streams. Even when information is available, there is often hesitation to embrace change, stemming from concerns about altering well-established business models. The transition toward bio-based solutions also may require significant adjustments to traditional agricultural or forestry practices, leading to uncertainty about economic viability, technical feasibility, and market demand. Several communication-related issues further limit primary producers’ ability to engage in bio-based innovation (e.g., language used is too complex, inappropriate interlocutors at the primary producer level, insufficient exchanges between primary producers and industry).

From a value chain perspective, primary producers are often only marginally integrated into the bio-based value chains and they are facing technological risks and uncertainties as building a new supply chain takes many seasons and years, with high risk for the primary sector and with limited short-term results.

By addressing these challenges, primary producers can be empowered to take an active role in circular bio-based innovation, ensuring that they do not just remain suppliers of raw materials but also benefit from the transformative opportunities that this growing sector offers.

Consequently, the CBE JU SRIA underlined that there is still room for further outreach and mobilisation of primary biomass suppliers from the agriculture sector which had already been identified as the group that needs to play a bigger and more specific role in the bioeconomy and bio-based value chains (Bio-Based Industries Consortium 2022; Innovarum, 2019; Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking, 2019).

Among the priorities established in the CBE JU SRIA for the primary sector, it is proposed i) to engage and integrate primary producers in sustainable circular bio-based systems and value chains; ii) to improve the primary sector’s involvement in the value chains with the aim of ensuring high quality and quantity of feedstock, while they are rewarded with a proper share of the profit; iii) to revive and revitalise rural, coastal, and peripheral regions through the development of appropriate technological solutions, and inclusive involvement and empowerment of local bioeconomy actors (including the primary sector).

In the SRIA, it is also foreseen that CBE JU actions will implement a value chain approach to ensure that all the relevant actors in the bio-based system, including the supply chain, i.e. primary producers, are appropriately involved in the selected project proposals and are represented to the largest possible extent in the project consortia.

Therefore, the CBE JU has launched in 2024 dedicated communication campaigns in EU countries that are included in the list of widening countries under Horizon Europe and that were underrepresented through the BBI JU programme implementation, as well as targeted specific stakeholder groups, such as primary producers. Communication material is adapted to the local language to reach a higher impact. The communication addresses local communities with a message on creating new kinds of jobs and alternative income sources in rural and coastal areas.

As a last and relevant operational instrument to foster the primary sector engagement in the bio-based industry, CBE JU has created a working group on primary producers (WG PP) that has been officially launched in June 2025. This is an action group the scope to propose specific actions to address the challenges faced by the agricultural, forestry and aquaculture & fisheries primary sector and to harness opportunities offered by circular bio-based innovations. The objectives are i) to empower primary producers to play an active and rewarding role in circular bio-based value chains; and ii) ensure they benefit from the economic, social, and environmental opportunities these systems offer (supported by long-term, sustainable, and feasible business models). The WG PP is a group of 78 stakeholders (by June 2025) and consists of organisations representing the agricultural, forestry, fisheries, and aquaculture primary sectors across Europe. The WG PP remains open to incorporate additional primary producers who wish to join the initiative in the future, ensuring broader representation across both sectors and regions. Among the concrete outcomes expected from the WG PP is the development and implementation of an Action Plan over the three years period 2026–2029, with the possibility of extending the work in a later phase, depending on the results achieved and future decisions. The action plan is drafted by the members of the working group, being tailor-made, to cover the specific needs and priorities of the primary sector. While the specific actions and the roadmap to achieve them will be defined by the WG PP over the next year, it is already anticipated, based on the SWOT analysis presented in Figure 3 and feedback gathered during the consultative workshop held in February 2024 (Circular Bio-Based Europe Joint Undertaking, 2024), that the actions will focus on different key areas of activity. The first area of activity focuses on raising awareness and improving understanding of the opportunities that circular bio-based innovations offer to primary producers. This includes reaching out to as many producers as possible, using the appropriate tools and language to ensure accessibility and impact. To continue, other areas of activities focus on strengthening cooperation of the primary sector with the industry and other stakeholders; deploying feasible business models; and enhancing knowledge exchange on innovation. Furthemore, activity focused on creating synergies and collaboration as well as capitalising on existing efforts and building on the work of established networks such as the EU CAP Network EIP AGRI Operational Group and various EU-funded projects are also sought. Finally, the last area of activity will concentrate on widening participation by mobilising primary producers from regions with unexploited potential and actively engaging them in bio-based value chains (Circular Bio-Based Europe Joint Undertaking, 2025).

4. Highlights on farmer participation in CBE JU funded projects

The CBE JU annual work programmes are designed to support the primary sector’s appropriate involvement and representation to the largest possible extent in the consortia in the selected project proposals. Several CBE JU topics are highly relevant and attractive for the agricultural primary sector (indicative list provided in table 2). Also, the expected outcomes, as described in the topic text, envisage positive impacts for farmers and rural areas, such as: engaging with primary producers to ensure that the solutions are meeting their requirements and needs; generating new incomes for farmers; delivering skilled job opportunities in rural areas; supporting the revitalisation of rural areas; fostering cooperation between farmers and bio-based industries; supporting capacity building, training and education for farmers, etc.

In addition, CBE JU-funded projects – particularly those at higher TRL (6-8), all Innovation Actions, including flagships – are requested to implement the Multi-Actor Approach as part of their methodology to ensure an effective engagement with primary producers by involving them in the project activities, including the design and use of the bio-based solutions. This guarantees that the farmers’ requirements and needs are well-considered from the beginning of the development of any innovation and in the building up of a new value chain. Synergies with measures and initiatives undertaken in the frame of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), as for example EIP Agri and the EIP Agri Operational Groups, and with the CAP networks are also reflected in several topics, where specific requirements are included in the topic texts and to be implemented in the project.

To monitor the progress of the CBE JU programme implementation with regard to the strategic participation and integration of feedstock producers and suppliers towards large-scale valorisation of sustainable biomass, a dedicated Key Performance Indicator has been set - KPI 1.1. number of primary producers, involved as project beneficiaries and/or engaged in value chains at project level.

This strategic support framework of CBE JU reaps the benefits. Analysing the data reported by projects from the first three calls - complemented by a detailed study of the indirect participation of primary producers - it is worth highlighting that since 2022, 84 organisations from the agricultural, forestry, and aquatic primary sectors have received a total of about 8.5 million euro in CBE JU funding. 61 out of 84 primary producers are farmers (agricultural primary producers; Figure 4, left panel), which means that farmers represent 73% of the primary sector actors involved in CBE JU projects. This is in line with the fact that agri-based feedstocks represent the major share of feedstock addressed by CBE JU projects (Figure 2).

Primary producers are involved in CBE JU projects, both as beneficiaries (direct participation) or in other ways (indirect participation). Indirect participation can take different forms such as contracts as biomass providers, contracts to perform validation services of end-products, involvement in advisory bodies, etc. In this regard, an interesting aspect to explore is the comparison between the figures of direct and indirect participation in CBE JU-funded projects as about 40% of farmers are direct participants while 60% are indirect participants. This indicates that farmers are interested in participating in CBE JU-funded projects, but not always as direct beneficiaries, and many prefer other forms of involvement that allow them to be engaged in these projects without bearing the administrative burden that come with formal project participation. This approach enables farmers to network and benefit from technical innovations while keeping their focus on their core activities.

Another aspect analysed in this publication is the involvement of primary producers in the different types of projects that CBE JU is funding (figure 4, right panel). The figures show that the involvement is particularly relevant in innovation actions, including flagships, where the full value chain is covered, and their role is vital to supply biorefineries with locally sourced biomass and/or to test the bio-based solutions as final end-users. In fact, since 2022, 60% of primary producers are involved in innovation actions and flagships, while 25% are in RIAs and 15% in CSAs.

5. Examples of CBE JU funded projects significantly involving primary producers

Among the different CBE JU projects that represent new opportunities for farmers, a selection of exemplary cases where the involvement of farmers is particularly relevant is presented below.

The BRILIAN project has been conceived to support the adoption of sustainable and cooperative business models in rural areas, for the valorisation of agricultural by-products seeking to increase and diversify primary producers’ income.¹ The ROBOCOOP-EU project develops circular regional business models for the use of waste streams from three agricultural sectors: grape, olive and stone fruit cultivation.² The project will offer new commercial opportunities in rural areas of Extremadura, Spain; Apulia, Italy; and West Macedonia, Greece. Another interesting example is MANUREFINERY project that will develop innovative ways to convert livestock manure into bio-based animal feed and fertilisers ³. The project will help reduce the environmental impact of livestock farming and create alternative income sources for farmers on four sites in Romania, Slovenia and Spain. These are only a few examples of Innovation Actions among many others that are carried out with the support of CBE JU.

Particularly interesting is the case of the flagships funded by CBE JU. In fact, CBE JU flagship projects cover the full value chain from biomass supply to the delivery of end products and considering their location close to the source of biomass. This is particularly relevant in term of creation of economic impact at territorial level. In this context, the role of farmers in the value chains as biomass suppliers but also end-users, together with the expected cooperation that will be forged between primary producers and biorefinery operators, has a high potential to support them by diversifying their business opportunities and sources of income.

Table 3 summarises the status of the CBE JU Flagships projects funded until call 2024 with a focus on where the biorefinery plant is located and which is the main associated feedstock.

An example of a flagship project that aims at achieving zero-waste and circular-by-design industrial process in a rural region in Europe is SUSTAINEXT⁴. The project is turning an existing production plant into a digitalised circular biorefinery to produce healthy plant extracts and functional ingredients from medicinal and aromatic crops – rosemary, camomile and lemon verbena – on disused tobacco fields in Extremadura, Spain. It also deploys solar panels to enhance soil use and provide clean energy as well as agricultural side streams – olives, cardoons and pomegranates – to showcase how underexploited biological raw materials can be upcycled. The project will generate value and new jobs for the region, showing the positive impact of pursuing the European Green Deal objectives. The project’s model is easily adaptable and replicable and can run on renewable energy.

Another relevant example is the AFTERBIOCHEM flagship project ⁵. The EU is the world’s largest producer of sugar beet, with about 140 000 sugar beet growers and around 27,000 direct jobs in sugar beet processing. AFTERBIOCHEM is building the first biorefinery for transforming the sugar industry’s side streams – mainly pulp and non-food waste – into bio-based molecules of industrial interest, for the flavourings, fragrances, hygiene products, pharmaceuticals, antimicrobials and polymers sectors in Carling Saint-Avold, France. This will increase the economic and environmental sustainability of the sugar beet industry. In addition, the process will be flexible enough to adapt to alternative feedstocks in the future.

6. Conclusion

Analysing the CBE JU funded projects, some key messages can be drawn on the main elements that are contributing to make a compelling proposal a successful project. In particular, while aligning with the CBE JU objectives and directly contributing to the EU Green Deal, circular economy and bioeconomy goals, successful projects have shown how the involvement of actors across the entire bio-based value chain, from biomass producers to end-users, is a very relevant prerequisite to provide the conditions that make a brilliant ideas a potential market success. In addition, SMEs play a crucial role in the CBE JU programme, accounting for one-third of participants and receiving a corresponding nearly one-third of the total funding. Their leadership is also evident, with one in four projects coordinated by an SME, reinforcing their vital contribution to driving innovation and project execution within the bio-based sector. Accelerating the innovation process for bio-based solutions and fostering technology transfer are part of core objectives of successfully funded CBE JU projects. Therefore, it is notewhorty that universities and research centres, representing one-quarter of all CBE JU participants, are key providers of innovative bio-based solutions for the projects. Building consortia founded on a strong multi-actor approach with a robust impact potential in term of societal, economic and environmental benefits is also pivotal to drive the market deployment of the biobased sector in Europe in a fair and sustainable way. To this regard, successful projects are mastering effective approaches to strengthen the link between circularity, bioeconomy and availability of sustainable biomass in the real life. This is very important to ensure that the farmers play a strategic role in the biobased transformation and are clearly positioned in the biobased value chains. This strong integration between the primary production and the biobased industry is expected to be further enhanced in the longer term, leading to systemic benefit from these collaborations.

As shown by CBE JU, there is a clear trend of supporting research and innovation aimed at enhancing competitiveness while at the same time ensuring high environmental protection, food security and the decarbonisation of the economy. The circular bio-based innovations developed in CBE JU projects are instrumental in achieving this goal. They will be crucial to make the most of the available sustainable biomass, including wastes, side streams, non-food crops, and cultivations in marginal lands to develop circular bio-based solutions in replacement of fossil-based products. These innovative solutions have the potential to protect ecosystems, reduce the utilisation of external inputs, ensure food security, support nature restoration, while diversifying the business models and income streams of the primary sectors. The expected rewarding cooperation between farmers and the rest of the biorefinery operators will also be important to ensure a proper and fair share of the profit among all the actors involved in the value chain.

The potential of CBE JU to support farmers is high and the partnership’s legal framework is extremely supportive, with measures incentivising their involvement in project activities but also beyond that, empowering farmers and enhancing their role in the circular bio-based value chains, as is proved with the launch of the WG PP. Several projects from BBI JU have already finished and demonstrated impacts for the primary sector and rural development. Under CBE JU, some of the projects resulting from the first three calls for proposals are already delivering concrete results and impacts. The project outcomes over the next years will be crucial to further understand the challenges and the opportunities for the involvement of farmers in the European circular bio-based value innovations and the impacts of the promotional CBE JU activities on that.

Altogether, the achievements of CBE JU and the findings related to the integration of primary sector and biobased industry will represent a solid and significant basis, substantiated by concrete outcomes and exploitable results, for the future of the bioeconomy research and innovation support in Europe in the next future.

References

Bio-Based Industries Consortium (2022). Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda of CBE JU. Brussels.

Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (2019). Proposal of actions to increase/improve the participation of the agricultural sector in BBI JU and ultimately in the bio-based sector. Available at: https://innovarum.es/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2019.BBIJU-Study.pdf

Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (2024). Report of the workshop engagement with primary producers in circular bio-based value chains. Available at: https://www.cbe.europa.eu/system/files/2024-04/Report-primary-producers-workshop-2024-02-28.pdf

Circular Bio-Based Europe Joint Undertaking (2025). Available at: https://www.cbe.europa.eu/system/files/2025-01/CBE-JU-WG-PP-concept-note.pdf

European Commission (2019). The European Green Deal. COM (219)640 final. Brussels.

European Commission (2021). Council Regulation (EU) 2021/2085 establishing the Joint Undertakings under Horizon Europe. Official Journal of the European Union 427/17. Brussels.

European Commission (2024). Communication Building the future with nature: Boosting Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing in the EU. COM (2024) 137 final. Brussels.

European Commission (2025). Communication A Strategic Framework for a Competitive and Sustainable EU Bioeconomy. COM(2025) 895 final. Brussels

General Secretariat of the Council, Special Committee on Agriculture/Council (2023). Council Conclusions on the opportunities of the bioeconomy in the light of current challenges with special emphasis on rural areas. Brussels.

INNOVARUM (2019). Study on the participation of the agricultural sector in the BBI JU: Business Models, Challenges and Recommendations to enhance the impact on rural development. Available at: https://innovarum.es/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2019.BBIJU-Study.pdf

Johnson, C., Ruiz Sierra, A., Dettmer, J., Sidiropoulou, K., Zicmane, E., Canalis, A., Llorente, P., Paiano, P., Mengal, P., and Puzzolo, V. (2021). The Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking as a catalyst for a green transition in Europe under the European Green Deal. EFB Bioeconomy Journal, 1: 100014.

Members of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture (2024). Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture. A shared prospect for farming and food in Europe. Brussels.

Mengal, P., Wubbolts, M., Zika, E., Ruiz, A., Brigitta, D., Pieniadz, A., and Black, S. (2018). Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking: The catalyst for sustainable bio-based economic growth in Europe. New Biotechnology, 40(A): 31–9.

Ruiz Sierra, A., Zika, E., Lange, L., Ruiz de Azúa, P., Canalis, A,, Mallorquín Esteban, P., Paiano, P., and Mengal, P. (2021). The bio-based industries joint undertaking: A high impact initiative that is transforming the bio-based industries in Europe. New Biotechnology, 60: 105–12.

---