1 Circular Biobased Europe Joint Undertaking: driving innovations towards sustainable 1 agriculture and growth in rural areas. 2 Simone Maccaferri*, Ana Ruiz Sierra, Paola Paiano, Chloe Johnson, Elina Zicmane, Virginia 3 Puzzolo, Nicoló Giacomuzzi-Moore 4 Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking, White Atrium, Av de la Toison d’Or 56-60, 1060 5 Brussels, Belgium. 6 * simone.maccaferri@cbe.europa.eu 7 This article has been accepted for publication and undergone full peer review but has not been 8 through the copyediting, typesetting, pagination and proofreading process, which may lead to 9 differences between this version and the Version of Record. 10 Please cite this article as: 11 Maccaferri S, Ruiz Sierra A, Paiano P, Johnson C, Zicmane E, Puzzolo V, Giacomuzzi-12 Moore N (2025). Circular Biobased Europe Joint Undertaking: driving innovations towards 13 sustainable agriculture and growth in rural areas., Bio-Based and Applied Economics, Just 14 Accepted. DOI: 10.36253/bae-17237 15 16 Abstract: The Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) is a public-private 17 partnership that supports research and innovation fostering the transition towards a competitive, 18 sustainable, and low-carbon economy in Europe. CBE JU and its projects represent a significant 19 business opportunity for the primary sector, and in particular for farmers. The deployment of 20 circular bio-based innovations can help diversify farmer´s activities and generate new sources 21 of income. Since 2022, about 130 million euros have been made available by CBE JU to 22 develop bio-based solutions with the potential to support sustainable agricultural practices and 23 boost rural economies, and currently 84 entities from the primary sector are participating in the 24 projects. The manuscript aims at critically analysing the major findings associated with primary 25 producers involvement in CBE JU programme and elaborate on the specific actions undertaken 26 to ensure that the primary sector can benefit from being concretely participating to innovative 27 bio-based value chains. 28 mailto:simone.maccaferri@cbe.europa.eu 2 Keywords: bioeconomy, primary sector, biorefineries, bio-based industries, public-private 29 partnership 30 1. INTRODUCTION 31 The unprecedented trend of global warming, climate change, degradation of the natural 32 ecosystems and increased pollution calls for immediate actions. In response, the European 33 Union (EU) has put in place the European Green Deal, a growth strategy that aims to create a 34 fair, prosperous society with a competitive and resource-efficient economy aiming to achieve 35 net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 (European Commission, 2019). 36 To reach these ambitious goals, a transition from a fossil- to a bio-based economy is needed. 37 New innovative, sustainable and circular bio-based products, that reach high technical levels of 38 performance and fully meet market requirements, should be developed so that they can 39 successfully replace their current fossil-based counterparts. In addition, the sustainable and 40 local sourcing of biomass, including all types of bio-based side streams, and the reuse, recycling 41 and upcycling of resources will play a key role in ensuring that bio-based systems are 42 sustainable and efficient in the use of natural resources. 43 Building on the success of its predecessor, the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI 44 JU), Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) is a pivotal instrument to 45 implement this vision at European level as it facilitates a transition away from fossil fuel 46 dependency, aligning with the goals of the EU Green Deal within the multifaceted policy 47 scenario that govern the bioeconomy and the bio-based sector (European Commission, 2021; 48 Johnson et al., 2021; Mengal et al., 2018; Ruiz Sierra et al., 2021). 49 Policy development in the bio-based sector and in the bioeconomy area at large have received 50 increasing attention in recent years. In April 2023, the EU Council endorsed conclusions 51 highlighting the bioeconomy's potential to support the environmental and climate objectives of 52 the European Green Deal (General Secretariat of the Council, Special Committee on 53 3 Agriculture, 2023). The bioeconomy is seen as a key factor in enhancing EU competitiveness, 54 reducing fossil fuel dependency, and improving food security. The Council stressed the role of 55 bioeconomy in fostering socially and economically viable rural areas, engaging primary 56 producers in climate action, and promoting job creation and equal opportunities across the EU. 57 Additionally, it emphasised the need for sustainable solutions in rural regions and the 58 importance of providing diversified incomes for stakeholders in the bioeconomy, including 59 landowners and small businesses, through new value-added chains and business models. 60 More recently, in 2024, the final report of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of Agriculture 61 acknowledged the necessity of collaboration between public and private sectors, as strong 62 public-private partnerships in which rural actors actively participate can help turn niche into 63 norm to support the development and implementation of bioeconomy initiatives (Members of 64 the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture, 2024). 65 In addition, in 2024, the European Commission (EC) has proposed a series of targeted actions 66 to boost biotechnology and biomanufacturing in the EU, offering innovative solutions to 67 societal challenges (European Commission, 2024). Biotechnologies which fall into the remit of 68 CBE JU’s field of action hold great promise for modernising not only the bio-based industrial 69 sector but also agriculture, forestry, food and feed industries at European level. 70 Altogether, these important political inputs will constitute the basis for the new Bioeconomy 71 Strategy, that is due for adoption by the end of 2025 and aims to advance innovation and 72 maintain the EU's leadership in the bioeconomy. The new Bioeconomy Strategy will propose 73 actions to unlock the potential of bioeconomy innovations, so that they can reach the market, 74 and will represent a major step forward in the evolving EU economic and political context. In 75 fact, an increasing number of Member States have issued their own national bioeconomy 76 strategies (European Commission, 2018). Particular attention will be given to the role of the 77 4 primary sector and the significance of biomass sustainability and availability for strengthening 78 and supporting the bio-based sector across Europe. 79 In this overall scenario, the objective of this article is to present the activities that CBE JU has 80 performed to ensure that primary sectors benefit from the economic, social, and environmental 81 opportunities offered by circular and bio-based innovations, including the creation and 82 establishment of a dedicated CBE JU working group on primary producers. Data derived from 83 the first three years of programme implementation demonstrates how the effort that has been 84 taken contributed to enhance the role of primary producers in circular bio-based systems and 85 value chains. Last, the article is presenting cases of projects where the involvement of the 86 primary sector is exemplary and showcase the potential impact of the primary sector in the 87 deployment of bioeconomy, with a specific attention to the first-of-a-kind biorefineries that 88 represent a peculiarity of CBE JU funding strategy. 89 90 2. CBE JU: A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO SUPPORT THE GREEN DEAL 91 OBJECTIVES 92 The CBE JU is a EUR 2 billion Public-Private Partnership between the EU, represented by the 93 EC, and the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC), a not-for-profit organisation representing 94 the private sector across the bio-based industries. It is established for the 2021-2031 period 95 under Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation framework programme (European 96 Commission, 2021). 97 Key objectives of CBE JU are to i) accelerate the innovation process and development of bio-98 based innovative solutions, ii) support the market deployment of mature bio-based innovative 99 solutions and iii) ensure a high level of environmental performance of the bio-based industrial 100 systems. In particular, CBE JU seeks to bridge the gap between the development of new bio-101 based innovations and their market deployment by promoting research and innovation 102 5 collaborative projects which integrate stakeholders throughout bio-based value chains, 103 including the primary sector, as vital biomass suppliers. CBE JU aims at de-risking 104 investments, encouraging collaboration, establishing new value chains, and tackling strategic 105 challenges to build a sustainable and prosperous bioeconomy. It ultimately contributes to 106 boosting European competitiveness on the global scale while at the same time reducing 107 dependency and increasing strategic autonomy. 108 CBE JU also aims to enhance the role of the primary sectors in the European bioeconomy with 109 their involvement in new value chains. This is reflected across all the frameworks and activities 110 that CBE JU is performing, from the Council Regulation establishing the Joint Undertakings to 111 the CBE JU Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) and the CBE JU annual work 112 programmes, which are setting the basis for the annual publication of calls for proposals 113 (European Commission, 2021; Bio-Based Industries Consortium, 2022). 114 CBE JU is a central pillar in establishing Europe’s bio-based sector as a global leader, and the 115 overall CBE JU project portfolio is composed of 220 projects, including 138 projects funded 116 by the predecessor BBI JU and 82 projects funded by CBE JU up to now. Over 1714 participants 117 from 46 countries have been engaged in CBE JU funded projects, among which 40% are 118 SMEs. 119 Aligned with Horizon Europe, the CBE JU is funding projects through open calls for proposals. 120 In particular, early-stage development (TRLs 3–5) is funded by research and innovation actions 121 (RIAs). Innovation actions (IAs) are represented by two different type of actions: demonstration 122 projects (IA-DEMO) that aims at scale up the technology and validate business cases (TRL 6–123 7), and flagship projects (IA-FLAG) that are operating at a pre-commercial scale (TRL 8), and 124 aim to support innovations that have already been demonstrated but not yet applied or deployed 125 at industrial and commercial scale in the EU (first-of-a-kind innovation). Last, CBE JU is 126 funding coordination and support actions (CSAs), that address non-technological challenges, 127 6 such societal awareness, capacity building, education and skills, among others. Table 1 shows 128 the portfolio of projects funded by CBE JU (and its predecessor BBI JU) divided per type of 129 action and with their associated budget. 130 Type of Action Number of funded projects Total budget Share of project Share of total budget Technology Readiness Level (TRL) Innovation Action – Flagship 19 333 m€ 10% 26% 3-5 Innovation Action – Demonstration 76 516 m€ 34% 41% 6-7 Research and Innovation Action 100 383 m€ 45% 30% 8 Coordination and Support Action 25 37 m€ 11% 3% --- Total 220 1269 m€ Table 1. Number of projects funded for Type of Action and relative share in the overall CBE 131 JU portfolio 132 133 The main application areas covered by the CBE JU projects are bio-based chemicals, 134 biopolymers and bioplastics, food and feed ingredients, packaging, construction materials, crop 135 protection and fertilisation solutions and textile as shown in Figure 1. 136 Figure 1. Number of CBE JU projects by main area of application and type of action. CSA 137 projects are not included being horizontal actions to support CBE JU programme. 138 7 139 The main types of feedstocks used in CBE JU projects are agriculture-based feedstock, 140 including residues and by-products from the agri-food industry, followed by forest-based 141 feedstock, including lignocellulosic side streams and wood residues, and finally aquatic 142 feedstock, including aquatic organisms and biomass from fisheries and the aquaculture sector 143 and their residues. Other relevant feedstock for CBE JU projects includes side streams from 144 industry, including black liquor from the pulp and paper industry and dairy process side streams, 145 as well as biowaste, including Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste (OFMSW), and 146 biogenic gases. (see Figure 2). 147 Figure 2. Number of CBU JU projects in relation to their main feedstock divided per type of 148 action. 149 150 151 8 It is therefore noteworthy to underline the importance of primary and secondary biomasses 152 linked to the agricultural, forestry and marine ecosystems in the overall CBE JU portfolio, 153 representing about 90% of the feedstocks addressed by the CBE JU projects. 154 155 3. CHALLENGES OF THE PRIMARY SECTOR INTEGRATION IN THE BIOBASED 156 INDUSTRY AND OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED BY CBE JU TO FARMERS 157 Enhancing business opportunities for primary producers in cooperation with the rest of the 158 stakeholders involved in the development of new innovative bio-based value chains and 159 promoting bioeconomy in rural areas are at the core of CBE JU's priorities. 160 Farmers are recognised in the context of CBE JU as crucial actors of the value chains as they 161 are providing biorefineries with different types of biomasses (including residues, side streams 162 and by-products) which are converted into high-value bio-based products and materials. The 163 economic activities along the biorefinery processes have the potential to bring new sources of 164 income for primary producers including farmers and therefore boosting local economies in rural 165 areas where they are located. In addition, farmers are also end-users of the innovations 166 delivered by the CBE JU-funded projects which are developing bio-based crop protection and 167 fertilisation solutions with a high environmental performance. These innovations include bio-168 based fertilisers, bio-based pesticides, biostimulants, or biodegradable and bio-based plastics 169 used in agricultural practices. These bio-based products represent a real alternative to 170 conventional products being more sustainable (i.e., having a reduced carbon footprint, 171 minimizing the impact on natural land, protecting soil quality and productivity, minimise the 172 emission of chemicals) and supporting ecosystem restoration, greener agricultural practices 173 (including organic farming), decarbonisation and reduction of EU dependency on imports of 174 raw materials used to produce fertilisers. 175 9 In order to better understand the main challenges and opportunities for primary producers in 176 the bioeconomy sector, a “Study on the participation of the agricultural sector in the BBI JU: 177 Business Models, Challenges and Recommendations to enhance the impact on Rural 178 Development” (Innovarum, 2019) has been conducted to be used as foundation for the draft of 179 the CBE JU SRIA. 180 The primary sector plays a fundamental role in the deployment of circular bio-based 181 innovations, significantly influencing the sustainability and success of the broader bio-based 182 economy. As key suppliers of biomass, primary producers provide the essential raw materials 183 needed for bio-based processes. At the same time, they act as both producers and end-users of 184 bio-based products and innovations, making their engagement vital for creating fully integrated, 185 circular value chains. Despite their potential to drive sustainability and innovation, several 186 barriers hinder their full participation and the extent to which they can benefit from these 187 opportunities. One of the core challenges is a lack of awareness regarding the opportunities 188 presented by circular bio-based innovations. Many primary producers remain uninformed about 189 how these innovations can enhance their operations, improve efficiency, and offer new revenue 190 streams. Even when information is available, there is often hesitation to embrace change, 191 stemming from concerns about altering well-established business models. The transition toward 192 bio-based solutions may require significant adjustments to traditional agricultural or forestry 193 practices, leading to uncertainty about economic viability, technical feasibility, and market 194 demand. Several communication-related issues further limit primary producers' ability to 195 engage in bio-based innovation (e.g., language used is too complex, inappropriate interlocutors 196 at the primary producer level, insufficient exchanges between primary producers and industry). 197 From a value chain perspective, primary producers are often only marginally integrated into the 198 bio-based value chains and they are facing technological risks and uncertainties as building a 199 10 new supply chain takes many seasons and years, with high risk for the primary sector and with 200 limited short-term results. 201 By addressing these challenges, primary producers can be empowered to take an active role in 202 circular bio-based innovation, ensuring that they do not just remain suppliers of raw materials 203 but also benefit from the transformative opportunities that this growing sector offers. 204 Consequently, the CBE JU SRIA underlined that there is still room for further outreach and 205 mobilisation of primary biomass suppliers from the agriculture sector which had already been 206 identified as a special group that needs to play a bigger and more specific role in the bioeconomy 207 and bio-based value chains (Bio-Based Industries Consortium 2022; Innovarum, 2019; Bio-208 Based Industries Joint Undertaking, 2019). 209 Among the priorities established in the SRIA for the primary sector, it is proposed i) to engage 210 and integrate primary producers in sustainable circular bio-based systems and value chains; ii) 211 to improve the primary sector’s involvement in the value chains with the aim of ensuring high 212 quality and quantity of feedstock, while they are rewarded with a proper share of the profit; iii) 213 to revive and revitalise rural, coastal, and peripheral regions through the development of 214 appropriate technological solutions, and inclusive involvement and empowerment of local 215 bioeconomy actors (including the primary sector). 216 In the SRIA, it is also foreseen that CBE JU actions will implement a value chain approach, 217 and this will ensure that all the relevant actors in the bio-based system, including the supply 218 chain, i.e. primary producers, are appropriately involved in the selected project proposals and 219 are represented to the largest possible extent in the project consortia. 220 The CBE JU has launched in 2024 dedicated communication campaigns in EU countries that 221 are included in the list of widening countries under Horizon Europe and that were 222 underrepresented through the BBI JU programme implementation, as well as targeted specific 223 stakeholder groups, such as primary producers. Communication material is adapted to the local 224 11 language to reach a higher impact. The communication addresses local communities with a 225 message on creating new kinds of jobs and alternative income sources in rural and coastal areas. 226 As a last and relevant operational instrument to foster the primary sector engagement in the 227 biobased industry, CBE JU has created a working group on primary producers (WG PP) that 228 has been officially launched in June 2025. It is an action group and the scope is to propose 229 specific actions to address the challenges faced by the agricultural, forestry and aquaculture & 230 fisheries primary sector and to harness opportunities offered by circular bio-based innovations. 231 The objectives are i) to empower primary producers to play an active and rewarding role in 232 circular bio-based value chains; and ii) ensure they benefit from the economic, social, and 233 environmental opportunities these systems offer (supported by long-term, sustainable, and 234 feasible business models). The WG PP is a group of 64 stakeholders (by June 2024) and consists 235 of organizations representing the agricultural, forestry, fisheries, and aquaculture primary 236 sectors across Europe. The WG PP remains open to incorporate additional primary producers 237 who wish to join the initiative in the future, ensuring broader representation across both sectors 238 and regions. Among the concrete outcomes expected from the WG PP is the development and 239 implementation of an Action Plan over the three years period 2025 –2028, with the possibility 240 of extending the work in a later phase, depending on the results achieved and future decisions. 241 The action plan will then be drafted by the members of the working group, being tailor-made, 242 to cover the specific needs and priorities of the primary sector. While the specific actions and 243 the roadmap to achieve them will be defined by the WG PP over the next year, it is already 244 anticipated, based on the SWOT analysis presented in Figure 3 and feedback gathered during 245 the consultative workshop held in February 2024 (Circular Bio-Based Europe Joint 246 Undertaking, 2024), that the actions will focus on different key areas of activity. The first area 247 of activity focuses on raising awareness and improving understanding of the opportunities that 248 circular bio-based innovations offer to primary producers. This includes reaching out to as many 249 12 producers as possible, using the appropriate tools and language to ensure accessibility and 250 impact. To continue, other areas of activities focus on strengthening cooperation of the primary 251 sector with the industry and other stakeholders; deploying feasible business models; and 252 enhancing knowledge exchange on innovation. Furthemore, activity focused on creating 253 synergies and collaboration as well as capitalising on existing efforts and building on the work 254 of established networks such as the EU CAP Network EIP AGRI Operational Group and 255 various EU-funded projects are also sought. Finally, the last area of activity will concentrate on 256 widening participation by mobilising primary producers from regions with unexploited 257 potential and actively engaging them in bio-based value chains (Circular Bio-Based Europe 258 Joint Undertaking, 2025). 259 13 Figure 3. SWOT analysis summarising the main findings of the CBE JU analysis on the problem and opportunities on the participation of primary 260 producers in the biobased innovation development 261 Strengths: • Primary producers are at the forefront of the bio-based value chains. • Direct processing and conversion of biomass at source (primary producers as operators of biorefineries, instead of ‘just’ biomass suppliers). • Incremental demand for biomass and increasing demand for circular bio-based products from industry and consumers. • Long tradition to cooperate in market-oriented value chains. • Possibility to use different forms of cooperation to strengthen the organisation of the primary sector, e.g., farmers' cooperatives (among themselves, and with industry and regional stakeholders), ensuring the direct and indirect participation of their members in the opportunities offered by the circular bioeconomy. • National support (e.g., farmers' support from national advisory services plus their enhanced role under CAP). • Existence of hubs, training centers, and capacity-building initiatives in rural areas. Weaknesses: • Primary producers do not always/fully benefit from the opportunities offered by cooperation with the bioeconomy/circular bio-based sector. • Mistrust & reluctance about new crops and potential opportunities offered by such crops, including their residues and new farming systems. • Insufficient engagement/cooperation of primary producers in the bio-based value chains (missing integration) and difficulty in maintaining motivation over the years. • Insufficient innovation capacity. • A volatile market for biomass as input to the bio-based sector. • Lack of skills, administrative burden, and language barriers encountered by primary producers to engage in new value chain development through participation in R&I projects. • Individual primary producers' involvement in bio-based value chains, in general, is more difficult than if they are represented by the cooperative or other types of organisations serving their interests. • Replicability of business models in different regions highly affected by local factors Opportunities: • New business opportunities for primary producers based on the efficient use of biomass and valorisation side streams from primary production & crop residues to produce high added-value materials. • Novel business models with environmental benefits, e.g., via circulation of nutrients and new sustainable, diversified production systems. • Revitalisation of the economic sustainability of unused or abandoned rural areas granting benefits to primary producers that provide ecosystem services. • Innovations as a lever for rural regeneration and generational renewal. • Benefits of participating in new innovative value chains: reduce the risk and accelerate the work, networking at the EU level, working closely together with other partners in so-called innovation ecosystems. Threats: • Difficulties in cooperation and an unlevel playing field between large companies/cooperatives and SMEs/individual primary producers (e.g., feasibility of long-term contracts between the primary sector with industry). • Lack of credibility of long-term economic viability of novel bio-based business models and associated technical barriers, e.g., building a new supply chain takes many seasons and years with high risk and very limited short-term results. • Too complex or not clearly communicated environmental requirements, including the competing demands for the use of land: biomass use for food and feed production, carbon storage, biodiversity (set-aside), etc. • Climate change impact and/or other unexpected threats to primary production. • Societal issues, including rural depopulation and aging (the average age of EU farmers is +60 years, and the new generation may not be interested). • Policy, legal & regulatory barriers: e.g., validity of ‘new’ crops not included in the actual CAP implemented at a national level, difficulty to use abandoned lands, barriers linked to logistics & transport of waste across regions, bio-based sector not considered among the national CAP plans and Operational Groups, fragmented legislative framework, etc. 262 14 4. HIGHLIGHTS ON FARMER PARTICIPATION IN CBE JU FUNDED PROJECTS 263 The CBE JU annual work programmes are designed to support the primary sector’s to 264 appropriate involvement and representation to the largest possible extent in the project consortia 265 in the selected project proposals. Several proposed topics are highly relevant and attractive for 266 the agricultural primary sector (indicative list provided in table 2). Also, the expected outcomes 267 envisaged for the projects as described in the topic text envisage positive impacts for farmers 268 and rural areas, such as: engaging with primary producers to ensure that the solutions are 269 meeting their requirements and needs; generating new incomes for farmers; delivering skilled 270 job opportunities in rural areas; supporting the revitalisation of rural areas; fostering 271 cooperation between farmers and bio-based industries; supporting capacity building, training 272 and education for farmers, etc. 273 In addition, CBE JU-funded projects — particularly those at higher TRL (6-8, all Innovation 274 Actions, including flagships) — are requested to implement the Multi-Actor Approach as part 275 of their methodology to ensure an effective engagement with primary producers by involving 276 them in the project activities, including the design and use of the bio-based solutions. This 277 guarantees that the farmers’ requirements and needs are well-considered from the beginning of 278 the development of any innovation and in the building up of a new value chain. Synergies with 279 measures and initiatives undertaken in the frame of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), as 280 for example EIP Agri and the EIP Agri Operational Groups, and with the CAP networks are 281 also reflected in several topics, where specific requirements are included in the topic texts and 282 to be implemented in the project. 283 Table 2. List of CBE JU topics published in calls for proposals relevant for farmers. 284 CBE JU Call Type of action and title of the topic 2022 IA-02-Cooperative business models for the sustainable mobilisation and valorisation of agricultural residues, byproducts, and waste in rural areas RIA-05-Sustainable fibres biorefineries feedstock 15 2023 IA-01 Small-scale biorefining in rural areas IA-02 Production of safe, sustainable, and efficient bio-based fertilisers to improve soil health and quality RIA-01 Phyto-management; curing soil with industrial crops, utilising contaminated and saline land for industrial crop production 2024 IAFlag-01 Bio-based value chains for valorisation of sustainable oil crops IAFlag-03 Bio-based value chains for valorisation of sustainable natural fibre feedstock IA-01 Bio-based materials and products for biodegradable in-soil applications RIA-03 Sustainable, bio-based alternatives for crop protection CSA-01 New forms of cooperation in agriculture and the forest-based sector CSA-03 Supporting the CBE JU Deployment Group on Primary Producers To monitor the progress of the CBE JU programme implementation with regard to the strategic 285 participation and integration of feedstock producers and suppliers towards large-scale 286 valorisation of sustainable biomass, a dedicated Key Performance Indicator has been set - KPI 287 1.1. number of primary producers, involved as project beneficiaries and/or engaged in value 288 chains at project level. 289 This strategic support framework of CBE JU reaps the benefits. Analysing the data gathered 290 during the first three years of operation, it is worth highlighting that since 2022, 84 291 organisations from the agricultural, forestry, and aquatic primary sectors have received a total 292 of about 8.5 million euro in CBE JU funding. 61 out of 84 primary producers are farmers 293 (agricultural primary producers; Figure 4, left panel). This means that farmers represent 73% 294 of the primary sector actors involved in CBE JU projects. This is in line with the fact that agri-295 based feedstocks represent the major share of feedstock addressed by CBE JU projects (Figure 296 2). 297 Primary producers are involved in CBE JU projects, both as beneficiaries of projects (direct 298 participation) or in other ways (indirect participation). Indirect participation can take different 299 forms such as contracts as biomass providers, contracts to perform validation services of end-300 products, involvement in advisory bodies, etc. In this regard, an interesting aspect to explore 301 is the comparison between the figures of direct and indirect participation in CBE JU-funded 302 projects as about 40% of farmers are direct participants while 60% are indirect participants. 303 16 This indicates that farmers are interested in participating in CBE JU-funded projects, but not 304 always as direct beneficiaries, and many prefer other forms of involvement that allow them to 305 be engaged in these projects without bearing the administrative burden that come with formal 306 project participation. This approach enables farmers to network and benefit from technical 307 innovations while keeping their focus on their core activities. 308 Another aspect analysed in this publication is the involvement of primary producers in the 309 different types of projects that CBE JU is funding (figure 4, right panel). The figures show that 310 the involvement is particularly relevant in innovation actions, including flagships, where the 311 full value chain is covered, and their role is vital to supply biorefineries with locally sourced 312 biomass and/or to test the bio-based solutions as final end-users. In fact, since 2022, 60% of 313 primary producers are involved in innovation actions and flagships, while 25% are in RIAs and 314 15% in CSAs. 315 Figure 4. Participation of primary producers in the CBE JU projects (2022, 2023 and 2024 calls). On 316 the left, distribution of participation among primary sectors as a percentage of total primary producer 317 participation. On the right, distribution of participation per type of funded action as a percentage of total 318 primary producer participation. 319 320 5. EXAMPLES OF CBE JU FUNDED PROJECTS SIGNIFICANTLY INVOLVING 321 PRIMARY PRODUCERS 322 61 10 13 Agriculture Forestry Fisheries and Aquaculture 60% 25% 15% Innovation Actions (including Flagships) Research and Innovation Actions Coordinating and Support Actions 17 Among the different projects selected for receiving CBE JU funding that deliver bio-based 323 innovations that represent new opportunities for farmers, a selection of exemplary cases where 324 the involvement of farmers is particularly relevant is presented. 325 The BRILIAN project has been conceived to support the adoption of sustainable and 326 cooperative business models in rural areas, for the valorisation of agricultural by-products 327 seeking to increase and diversify primary producers’ income (BRILIAN project, 2023). The 328 ROBOCOOP-EU project develops circular regional business models for the use of waste 329 streams from three agricultural sectors: grape, olive and stone fruit cultivation (ROBOCOOP-330 EU project, 2023). The project will offer new commercial opportunities in rural areas of 331 Extremadura, Spain; Apulia, Italy; and West Macedonia, Greece. Another interesting example 332 is MANUREFINERY project that will develop innovative ways to convert livestock manure 333 into bio-based animal feed and fertilisers (MANUREFINERY project, 2024). The project will 334 help reduce the environmental impact of livestock farming and create alternative income 335 sources for farmers on four sites in Romania, Slovenia and Spain. These are only a few 336 examples of Innovation Actions among many others that are carried out with the support of 337 CBE JU. 338 Particularly interesting is the case of the flagships funded by CBE JU. In fact, CBE JU flagship 339 projects have the aim of covering the full value chain from biomass supply to the delivery of 340 end products and considering their location close to the source of biomass. This is particularly 341 relevant in term of creation of economic impact at territorial level. In this context, the role of 342 farmers in the value chains as biomass suppliers but also end-users, together with the expected 343 cooperation that will be forged between primary producers and biorefinery operators, has a high 344 potential to support them by diversifying their business opportunities and sources of income. 345 Table 3 summarises the current status of the 19 CBE JU Flagships project with a focus on where 346 the biorefinery plant is located and which is the main associated feedstock. 347 18 Table 3. Summary of the CBE JU Flagship and distribution for geographical area, main 348 feedstock and main area of application. 349 Name of the project Country of location Main feedstock Area of application CERISEA France Agri-food Bio-based chemicals PEFERENCE The Netherlands Agri-food Biopolymers and bioplastics FIRST2RUN Italy Agri-food Bio-based chemicals PLENITUDE The Netherlands Agri-food Food and feed LIGNOFLAG Romania Agri-food Other TERRIFIC Italy Agri-food Biopolymers and bioplastics SUSTAINEXT Spain Agri-food Food and feed RUNFASTER4EU Italy Agri-food Bio-based chemicals AFTERBIOCHEM France Agri-food Bio-based chemicals FARMYNG France Agri-food Food and feed CIRCLE The Netherlands Agri-food Bio-based chemicals SYLPLANT France Agri-food and Forest-based Food and feed SCALE France Aquatic Food and feed PROTEUS Norway Aquatic Food and feed CIRCULAR BIOCARBON Spain and Italy Biowaste Biopolymers and bioplastics SWEETWOODS Estonia Forest-based Construction EXILVA Norway Forest-based Biopolymers and bioplastics VIOBOND Latvia Forest-based Construction WOODCELL Estonia Forest-based Biopolymers and bioplastics 350 An example of a flagship project that aims at achieving zero-waste and circular-by-design 351 industrial process in a rural region in Europe is SUSTAINEXT (SUSTAINEXT project, 2023). 352 The project is turning an existing production plant into a digitalised circular biorefinery to 353 produce healthy plant extracts and functional ingredients from medicinal and aromatic crops – 354 rosemary, camomile and lemon verbena – on disused tobacco fields in Extremadura, Spain. It 355 also deploys solar panels to enhance soil use and provide clean energy as well as agricultural 356 side streams – olives, cardoons and pomegranates – to showcase how underexploited biological 357 raw materials can be upcycled. The project will generate value and new jobs for the region, 358 19 showing the positive impact of pursuing the European Green Deal objectives. The project’s 359 model is easily adaptable and replicable and can run on renewable energy. 360 Another relevant example is the AFTERBIOCHEM flagship project (AFTERBIOCHEM 361 project, 2020). The EU is the world’s largest producer of sugar beet, with about 140 000 sugar 362 beet growers and around 27,000 direct jobs in sugar beet processing. AFTERBIOCHEM is 363 building the first biorefinery for transforming the sugar industry’s side streams – mainly pulp 364 and non-food waste – into bio-based molecules of industrial interest, for the flavourings, 365 fragrances, hygiene products, pharmaceuticals, antimicrobials and polymers sectors in Carling 366 Saint-Avold, France. This will increase the economic and environmental sustainability of the 367 sugar beet industry. In addition, the process will be flexible enough to adapt to alternative 368 feedstocks in the future. 369 370 6. CONCLUSION 371 Analysing the current achievements of the CBE JU projects, some key messages can be drawn 372 on the main elements that are contributing to make a compelling proposal a successful project. 373 In particular, while aligning with the CBE JU objectives and directly contributing to the EU 374 Green Deal, circular economy and bioeconomy goals, successful projects are demonstrating 375 innovative breakthroughs and, at the same time it has been shown how the involvement of 376 actors across the entire bio-based value chain, from biomass producers to end-users, is a very 377 relevant prerequisite to provide the conditions that make a brilliant ideas a potential market 378 success. SMEs play a crucial role in the CBE JU programme, accounting for nearly one-third 379 of participants and receiving a corresponding one-third of the total funding. Their leadership is 380 also evident, with one in four projects coordinated by an SME, reinforcing their vital 381 contribution to driving innovation and project execution within the bio-based sector. 382 Accelerating the innovation process for bio-based solutions and fostering technology transfer 383 20 are part of core objectives of successfully funded CBE JU projects. Therefore, it is notewhorty 384 that universities and research centres, representing one-quarter of all CBE JU participants, are 385 key providers of innovative bio-based solutions for the projects. Building consortia founded on 386 a strong multi-actor approach with a robust impact potential in term of societal, economic and 387 environmental benefits is also pivotal to drive the market deployment of the biobased sector in 388 Europe in a fair and sustainable way. To this regard, successful projects are mastering effective 389 approaches to strengthen the link between circularity, bioeconomy and availability of 390 sustainable biomass in the real life. This is very important to ensure that the farmers play a 391 strategic role in the biobased transformation and are clearly positioned in the biobased value 392 chains. This strong integration between the primary production and the biobased industry is 393 expected to be further enhanced in the longer term, leading to systemic benefit from these 394 collaborations. 395 We are in a transition period: the scope of the bioeconomy, including the opportunities for the 396 primary sector, will be further developed in the revision of the European Bioeconomy Strategy 397 expected by the end of 2025. 398 As proposed by CBE JU, there is a clear trend of supporting research and innovation aimed at 399 enhancing competitiveness while at the same time ensuring high environmental protection, food 400 security and the decarbonisation of the economy. The circular bio-based innovations developed 401 in CBE JU projects are instrumental in achieving this goal. They will be crucial to make the 402 most of the available sustainable biomass, including wastes, side streams, non-food crops, and 403 cultivations in marginal lands to develop circular bio-based solutions in replacement of fossil-404 based products. These innovative solutions have the potential to protect ecosystems, reduce the 405 utilisation of external inputs, ensure food security, support nature restoration, while diversifying 406 the business models and income streams of the primary sectors. The expected rewarding 407 21 cooperation between farmers and the rest of the biorefinery operators will also be important to 408 ensure a proper and fair share of the profit among all the actors involved in the value chain. 409 The potential of CBE JU to support farmers is high and the partnership’s legal framework is 410 extremely supportive, with measures incentivising their involvement in project activities but 411 also beyond that, empowering farmers and enhancing their role in the circular bio-based value 412 chains, as is proved with the launch of the WG PP. Several projects from BBI JU have already 413 finished and demonstrated impacts for the primary sector and rural development. Under CBE 414 JU, some of the projects resulting from the first three cycle of funding are already delivering 415 concrete results and impacts. The project outcomes over the next years will be crucial to further 416 understand the challenges and the opportunities for the involvement of farmers in the European 417 circular bio-based value innovations and the impacts of the promotional CBE JU activities on 418 that. 419 Altogether, the achievements of CBE JU and the findings related to the integration of primary 420 sector and biobased industry will represent a solid and significant basis, substantiated by 421 concrete outcomes and exploitable results, for the future of the bioeconomy research and 422 innovation support in Europe in the next future. 423 REFERENCES 424 AFTERBIOCHEM project from H2020-BBI-JTI-2019 Call (2020). Available at: 425 https://www.cbe.europa.eu/projects/afterbiochem . 426 Bio-Based Industries Consortium (2022). Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda of CBE 427 JU. Brussels. 428 Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (2019). 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