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Picture: Q-Plan<\/p>\n
After 32 months of dedicated work, the EU-funded BIOTRANSFORM project has reached its conclusion. During this time, the project consortium worked to support both policymakers and businesses in driving the transition from linear, fossil-based value chains to circular, bio-based systems across the EU. The project has yielded key outcomes, including a comprehensive methodology for evaluating biomass residue utilisation and critical policy recommendations designed to accelerate the bioeconomy transformation.<\/p>\n
BIOTRANSFORM studied six case studies from diverse European countries and regions \u2013 Austria, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Greece, and Spain \u2013 each representing unique biotransformation challenges in sectors like forestry, olive farming, agri-food, and lignin processing.<\/p>\n
The choice and development of the case studies followed a methodology developed in the project and was built on a regional data knowledge base, the analysis of local biomass potentials, and the strong involvement of experts and regional stakeholders. Potential transformation paths were analysed using the BIOTRANFORM Assessment Package with regard to material flow streams, logistical aspects, and their economic, ecological and social impacts.<\/p>\n
This resulted in a series of relevant case studies that reflected the challenges and potential of the respective regions.<\/p>\n
For NRW, CLIB investigated additional value creation potential for side streams from sugar production. In close cooperation with Professor Michael Zavrel’s working group at the Technical University of Munich, the further processing of sugar beet pulp into lactic acid, integrated into sugar beet processing was examined.<\/p>\n
The findings from the regional case studies were also incorporated into policy briefs and recommendations for regional decision-makers.<\/p>\n
Supportive policy making remains a key challenge for the transition to the bioeconomy, especially at the regional level. Issues of stakeholder engagement, policy vision, and cross-departmental collaboration are central to creating a successful framework for the circular bioeconomy.<\/p>\n
CLIB would like to thank all our project and associated partners in BIOTRANSFORM. It was a pleasure to work with such a dedicated team of circular bioeconomy enthusiasts and the range of know-how in the consortium really made a difference to the results we were able to achieve. Via this Coordinating and Support Action, CLIB was able to collect information about bioeconomy in its home state of NRW, connect to relevant stakeholders, and together with them identify and evaluate potential transformation pathways. This helped us identify barriers but also generated a better understanding among stakeholders which steps need to be taken in order to realise transformation in the region.<\/p>\n