Ce topic appartient à l'appel Circular economy and bioeconomy sectors
Identifiant du topic: HORIZON-CL6-2023-CircBio-01-9

Business models that balance the share of power and profit in the bioeconomy

Type d'action : HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
Nombre d'étapes : Single stage
Date d'ouverture : 22 décembre 2022
Date de clôture : 28 mars 2023 17:00
Budget : €8 000 000
Call : Circular economy and bioeconomy sectors
Call Identifier : HORIZON-CL6-2023-CIRCBIO-01
Description :

ExpectedOutcome:

This topic is supporting the bioeconomy strategy and the common agriculture policy (CAP) by promoting diverse forms of cooperation among primary producers to create value-added bio-based products in fair value chains via advanced biorefineries.

Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following outcomes:

  • Revitalisation and resilience of rural economies by creating new green jobs and investments.
  • Development and validation of replicable, scalable production and business models for the operation of biorefineries that offer economic opportunities in rural areas and contribute to a fair distribution of benefits in bio-based value chains.
  • Enhanced joint investment in R&D and demonstration plants.
  • Linking of underutilised feedstock types with available technologies and market information, improved logistics and quality standards.
  • Identification of factors for success and policy recommendations in view of robust contracts and agreements, training and capacity building, shared business plans, marketing strategies for bio-based products as well as financial and legal aspects.
  • Climate-neutral land sector by 2035 and climate-neutral economy by 2050.
  • Diversification and enhancement of agricultural incomes (organic and conventional farming) and transition towards sustainable food systems in line with the farm to fork strategy.
  • Enhanced cooperation between primary producers and other key actors along the value chain in the bio-based economy.

Scope:

The circular use of waste, by-products and residues from agriculture, forestry, and the agri-food industry can lead to the creation of new economic opportunities in rural areas. However, primary producers are often not fully integrated in bio-based value chains, and thus, benefits are not sufficiently distributed among value chain actors.

This topic addresses diverse forms of cooperation among primary producers and suitable business models to create high-value bio-based products in vertically integrated value chains via advanced biorefineries.

Proposals will:

  • Examine the potential of contractual agreements or fully developed shareholder/ownership concepts (e.g., cooperatives) to create sustainable and competitive innovations in the bio-based economy through the conversion of by-products, residues and wastes from agriculture and forestry.
  • Develop and promote business models for different primary production sectors in the EU that build on existing rural infrastructures, support the economies of scale, and contribute to a fair distribution of costs, benefits, and risks amongst the economic operators.
  • Contribute to a better understanding of sustainable and fair biobased supply chains, synergetic points along and across agricultural, forestry and industrial value chains as well as industrial symbiosis opportunities.
  • Explore existing investment options, including non-traditional sources (e.g., cross-sectoral collaborations, etc.) and identify barriers and enablers for sustainable long-term operations.
  • Contribute to restoring carbon content in soil, increasing nutrients, revitalising marginal lands and ensuring food security.
  • Consider further socio-economic factors, influencing farmers’ behaviour and develop indicators to assess the economic, environmental and social impacts for farmers, foresters and rural areas through increased cooperation.
  • Connect with a wide range of stakeholders (farmers, foresters, industry, processors, advisors, clusters, etc.) and develop together a portfolio of research and innovation priorities that can be implemented in Horizon Europe and relevant European partnerships such as the Circular Biobased Europe.
  • Promote bioeconomy-related interventions in the new CAP and provide advice and technical guidance for Member States.

Proposals shall apply the concept of the 'multi-actor approach’ and ensure adequate involvement of the farming sector, SMEs and other actors active in rural areas.

Proposals may involve financial support to third parties e.g. to primary producers, academic researchers, start-ups, SMEs, and other multidisciplinary actors, to, for instance, develop, test or validate developed applications. Consortia need to define the selection process of organisations, for which financial support may be granted. Maximum 20% of the EU funding can be allocated to this purpose.

Cooperation with other selected projects under this topic is strongly encouraged.