Between March and August of 2019, Innvoarum carried out the “Study on the participation of the agricultural sector in the BBI JU: business models, challenges and recommendations to enhance the impact on rural development”. The study was commissioned by the BBI JU (Bio-Industries Joint Undertaking) and published on the 28 of January of 2020.

Maya Hernando and Irene Paredes coordinated the execution of the study, which counted with the extensive contribution of Carina Folkenson.

Methodology

Innovarum carried out a systematic collection of information through literature review, execution of surveys, interviews and meetings.

The study team would like to thank all stakeholders for their time and collaboration. In particular, we would like to thank the interviewees, the survey respondents and the participants to the Focus Group meeting, whose contributions were a key part of the foundation upon which this study was built. – Study on the participation of the agricultural sector in the BBI JU, Acknowledgements – The Innovarum Team

The content of the study

The study outlines the agricultural sector’s current involvement in the BBI JU portfolio and provides recommendations for improvement. Its goal is to enhance and consolidate the agricultural primary sector participation in the bio-based sector (and its value chains), and ultimately, maximise the positive impact of the BBI JU in rural development.

The study presents relevant concepts related to the bioeconomy and its context; assesses the participation of the agricultural sector in the BBI JU project’s portfolio; identifies successful business models and the key challenges for the agricultural primary sector to engage with the bio-based sector and its value chains; and finally, it presents recommendations to enhance the situation.

Main challenges identified

The main challenges identified for the primary agricultural sector to participate in the bioeconomy and in its value chains are:

  1. The unclear and still novel concepts of bioeconomy and the bio-based sector;
  2. contradictory policy goals for distinct policy areas;
  3. the unclear market demand for final bio-based products and for agro-based biomass as input to the bio-based
    sector;
  4. and the difficulties inherent in the initial steps of new bioeconomy activities.

Main recommendations areas

A total of 28 recommendations were drafted in order to help face the challenges above. The recommendations were organised into 6 areas:

  1. Defining funding priorities addressed at promoting the use of agro-biomass;
  2. drafting the annual calls and topics description to foster the participation of the agricultural primary sector;
  3. fine-tuning the evaluation process regarding the selection of projects for funding, and monitoring of ongoing projects;
  4. adapting the participation rules to the particularities of the agricultural primary sector;
  5. achieving better visibility of the BBI JU initiative;
  6. making the most of BBI JU by linking with other EU measures.
Download the study

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