Reconstructing areas affected by conflicts: the role of the bio-based solutions

Expected Outcome:

In line with EU policies, in particular the European Green Deal, the bioeconomy strategy and the climate adaptation strategy, successful proposals will support bio-based and nature-based solutions to deliver on EU international commitments and outreach, including actions directed at future EU enlargement, EU international partnership and humanitarian aid, contributing to the EU global commitments on biodiversity and climate change.

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

• advanced mapping and assessment of local problems and needs and the opportunities and synergies of both bio-based innovation and of nature-based solutions, for the reconstruction of areas affected by conflict;
• enhanced and more rapidly accessible uptake and community co-creation of more sustainable bio-based solutions, aimed at restoration efforts;
• promotion of the ‘build back better and greener’ concept, at all government levels and by different stakeholders, contributing to climate adaptation;
• enhanced understanding and engagement of the policymakers and society stakeholders of the role of bio-based innovation, at relief efforts, underpinned by principles of scientific excellence, sustainability, circularity and inclusiveness.

Scope:

The recent wars, some of which are taking place at or near the EU borders, in particular the unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression of Russia on Ukraine, and the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, are causing not only tragic loss of human life and human suffering, but also serious environmental degradation, across ecosystems, terrestrial and aquatic, and in consequence biodiversity loss. Beyond the EU’s borders, conflicts and fragility also persist where communities are affected by recurring or endemic conflicts with no real efforts to reconstruct, much less to build back better and greener. In this context, the options for the reconstruction process offered by the innovative bio-based solutions should be explored and seized. There is also a clear urgency to assess the resilience of solutions, map and deploy the remedies arising from both bio-based innovation and from nature-based solutions to address the reconstruction of such areas, both rural, coastal and urban, to promote the ‘build back better and greener’ concept, thus contributing to adaptation to climate change.

The action covers the development of practical solutions to achieve reconstruction efforts and strategies for restoring and ‘renaturing’ destroyed areas, made possible by bio-based innovation (including, i.e. the role of biotechnology, digital solutions, or bio-based construction materials), taking into account the circular and cascading use of biomass principles, local valorisation of underutilised biological residues, using nature-based solutions for their potential for bringing back biodiversity and restoring areas degraded or destroyed by conflicts, and overall, more sustainable and more environmentally-friendly management of biological resources. The aspect of the disaster risk reduction can be also included, if relevant. Covering the potential use of the bio-based innovation and nature-based solutions and their interplay in the humanitarian relief sphere and preparing for the deployment of concrete and human-centric applications is strongly encouraged. The higher sustainability of circular bio-based materials should be confirmed by the LCA approach, as much as possible.

Synergies with ongoing projects are encouraged, e.g. those funded under topics HORIZON-CL6-2023-CIRCBIO-01-06: Bio-based solutions for humanitarian applications or HORIZON-CL6-2023-GOVERNANCE-01-05: Revitalisation of European local (rural/peri-urban) communities with innovative bio-based business models and social innovation, upcoming topics (e.g. HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-ZEROPOLLUTION-03: Environmental biotechnology applications in service of restoration of polluted ecosystems, as well as with the actions supported under the New European Bauhaus (NEB) Facility. In addition, synergies with the EU Mission on Climate-neutral and Smart Cities, and with LIFE projects, are encouraged, notably the ones which contributed to the Ukraine Green Recovery Conference ^[1].

Proposals should include a task dedicated to sharing methodologies and findings with projects funded under this topic and with similar recent or ongoing projects (some of which are referenced in the topic).

Proposals should take into account the findings of the Global Resources Outlook 2024 of the International Resource Panel.

Social Sciences and Humanities aspects, including gender dimension, social innovation are to be covered, to ensure an inclusive engagement of all key stakeholders. The multi-actor approach (MAA) is encouraged.

The action will provide recommendations to policymakers and EU and international relief organisations, to develop any replication actions, including in the context of the possible EU accession process, if relevant. International cooperation is strongly encouraged.

The JRC may provide support in research activities related the application of circular and bio-based materials in the rapid rebuilding of conflict-affected regions.

[1] Ukraine Green Recovery Conference - European Commission (europa.eu)