Newsletter

For privacy reasons X needs your permission to be loaded. For more details, please see our Privacy Policy.

About the Author: Beatriz Deltoro

Bea holds a MSc in Synthetic Integrative Biology (by CSIC and UIMP, ES) and a BSc in Biotechnology (from the Polytechnic University of Madrid, ES). During the latter, she enjoyed an ERASMUS stay at Ghent University (BE). She has also studied a course on Creation and leadership of resilient teams at the University of Chicago (US). Her education and previous experience as a lab manager crystallized in her interest in scientific organization at an international level and exploring innovation as a main motor of change. Her education and previous experience as a lab manager crystallized in her interest in scientific organization at an international level and exploring innovation as a main motor of change.

As we wave farewell to this year, join us in reviewing the last MainstreamBIO events organized by Innovarum in 2024. In May, we brought bioeconomy to Teruel through an awareness raising event and a capacity building workshop focused on the project’s digital toolkit. In September, we teamed up with LIFE CHANDELIER in the organization of a networking event and a demo day. Finally, in November we organized two events to promote exchange among international peers and cooperation towards the expansion of bioeconomy. Keep reading to learn more about these events!

Interregional Learning Event

Global agrotourism revenues are expected to reach €7.76 B in five years, 20% of which would be obtained in Europe. Moreover, this economic activity has the potential to become a stable income for farmers and be a key awareness raiser on nature and bioeconomy. Thus, we organized an event on the 20th November 2024 focused on agrotourism: its benefits, its hinderances, and how it differs within European regions.

Participants gathered from various European countries, such as Bulgaria and Denmark. Three Spanish success cases were presented: 

  • La era de Oxox: focused on organic and regenerative agriculture, this farm has received visitors since 2010.
  • Rúcula (rocket) project: this farm started in 2007 and plans to start hosting guests next year, to complement their current courses.
  • Agroturismo El Capriolo: this farm from the XXth century evolved into an agrotourism initiative that offers experiences not only to families, but also to companies.

Invitees and speakers agreed on the main difficulties in the creation of these experiences: bureaucracy (which may be facilitated by external associations), generating traction (estimated in 5 years), and time dedication (at least 40% of the total available time). On the bright side, they also agreed tourism activities have benefited their vicinity by helping to protect the environment and supporting local jobs.

Noticed differences among countries were the number of workers involved (with Spain deemed having less people involved per activity than Bulgarian and Danish counterparts), the price and nature of the activities (with Denmark having higher prices and activities more related to the surroundings than to the hosting farm), and the type of public involved (Spain is more focused on national tourism, while Denmark receives higher numbers of international tourists).

To wrap up the event, participants enjoyed agrotourism themselves through a visit to the facilities of Agroturismo El Capriolo. The cherry on the cake to this fruitful peer learning!

Workshop on bioeconomy in the Ebro valley

At the beginning of 2024, Innovarum provided free support to various rural initiatives, helping them define their bioeconomy business ideas and identify suitable public funds for their needs. Two of these initiatives were the protagonists of this hybrid workshop on bioeconomy organized the 25th November at the CIEM Zaragoza (Spain). The audience gathered sectorial experts, research centers, and associations related to social economy and sustainability. Attendees listened to their ideas and barriers of both initiatives and provided their expert advice to scale them up.

  • Magalia presented their plan to close the energy loop at their facilities, using their olive pits to heat their oil mills instead of diesel. Discussion with experts reinforced the suitability of biomass for this cooperative, versus other sustainable energy sources, and pinpointed key aspects to consider, such as thermal dynamics and cost of repairments.
  • Ganadería La Albarda described their ecologic cattle farm, and how they plan to combine it with touristic activities. Experts advised them to emphasize La Albarda counts of the complete meat cycle, including preparation and packaging, since this is highly unusual.

Overall, participants agreed on the need for a consultative body which can provide unbiased counselling to initiatives related to bioeconomy. This would reduce the unease of entrepreneurs (who feel they lack technical information to decide) and the time-burden of implementing bioeconomy (since desk research on technologies, prices, etc., is very demanding).

Also, invitees valued the networking opportunity and emphasized the importance of European projects reaching to and gaining the trust of rural agents to really propel these bioeconomy actions.

 

Keeping it up in 2025

As we conclude this year, we are proud to see the impactful events we have organized in 2024, bringing bioeconomy and sustainability to the spotlight in rural Spain. We are looking forward to fostering peer learning and supporting rural bioeconomy projects.

In 2025, we will work to connect stakeholders through a networking event, and to inspire and empower rural actors in a bioeconomy awareness raising campaign. Follow us on our social media to stay updated about these upcoming events.

Here’s to a 2025 promoting innovation and bioeconomy growth — together, we make it happen!