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AGRIFORVALOR identified needs and barriers for the implementation of a Bioeconomy

Needs and barrier of 68 stakeholders (farmers, foresters, bio-industriy and RTDs) analysed in the three hubs, Andalusia, Hungary and Ireland

Published on 27-10-2017 08:30:53 by AGRIFORVALOR

AGRIFORVALOR performed an analysis based on: know-how needs and business issues in technological innovations , barriers to implement RDI and best practice solutions at a local level, barriers hindering the development of sustainable biomass supply chain

The analyis showed that most respondents are aware of taking risks in the sense that not innovating is more risky – they understand the need to innovate and to introduce new, cheaper, better technologies, but are also aware of the possible risks and barriers to the innovation process. Many also understand the ecological circumstances that should drive agriculture, forestry and bio-industry towards the goals of achieving a bioeconomy.

 The high interest in learning about new valorisation possibilities of biomass sidestreams shows the virulent importance of this topic given the fact that companies today are mostly focusing on low-value products like energy or fertiliser production, and would like to know what else with higher value can be produced and what are the existing technologies for that.

As main outcome of this needs and barrier analysis, the trainings themes most demanded by the hubs were in general:

• valorisation possibilities of different biomass sidestreams, (71.43%);
• good practices of biomass sidestream valorisation (52.38%).
• “zero waste” concept, circular economy, bioeconomy (38,10 %);
• Project management (38,10 %);
• Innovation management (10 %).

Main barriers were:

• lack of support or not enough support from policy for biomass valorisation
• lack of internal financing;
•  barriers in commercializing innovations that originate in legislation and legal requirements and long administrative and approval procedures
• lack of appropriate external funding sources.