European Bioeconomy in Action: Turning Agricultural Residues into Valuable Resources
New European Bioeconomy Alliance brochure showcases practical examples of how bio-based innovation can strengthen sustainability, industrial competitiveness and circular agriculture.
Europe’s transition towards a more sustainable economy is already taking shape through businesses and research initiatives that transform renewable biological resources into valuable products.
In its newly expanded brochure, European Bioeconomy in Action: Delivering the Bio-based Transformation, the European Bioeconomy Alliance (EUBA) highlights real-world solutions demonstrating how the bioeconomy can support climate objectives while creating new economic opportunities.
Published on 14 October 2026, the brochure presents examples ranging from biorefineries that convert agricultural residues into high-value chemicals to innovative timber construction and circular food systems.
Three inspiring examples of bio-based innovation
1. Agricultural residues transformed into valuable chemicals
Biorefineries demonstrate how agricultural by-products and other renewable resources can become feedstocks for industrial production. Instead of treating residues as waste, these facilities can extract additional value from biomass and develop alternatives to products traditionally made from fossil resources. This approach creates opportunities for agricultural businesses to participate in new value chains beyond food and feed.
2. Climate-neutral fermentation in Belgium
Alcogroup’s Alco Bio Fuel biorefinery in Ghent is highlighted by EUBA member ePURE for its work on capturing CO₂ from fermentation. The example illustrates how industrial biotechnology can help reduce emissions by recovering carbon dioxide generated during production and creating opportunities for its further use.
3. Decarbonising bioethanol production in Slovakia
Enviral’s bioethanol facility in Leopoldov provides another example of innovation within the bio-based industry. Its decarbonisation efforts demonstrate how existing industrial facilities can work towards reducing their environmental footprint while continuing to produce renewable fuels.
Why does this matter for agriculture?
For farmers, cooperatives and agri-food entrepreneurs, the bioeconomy creates opportunities to diversify revenue, reduce waste and build partnerships with biotechnology companies and industrial processors. Crop residues, food-processing by-products and other biological materials can become inputs for bio-based chemicals, materials, energy and other products.
However, successful implementation depends on viable business models, suitable processing infrastructure, reliable biomass supplies and collaboration between primary producers, researchers and industry.
From good examples to wider adoption
The EUBA brochure demonstrates that the bio-based transformation is not simply a future ambition. Practical solutions are already emerging across Europe, showing how innovation can connect agricultural production with new industrial markets.
For the agricultural sector, the next step is to scale up these approaches and ensure that farmers and rural businesses benefit from the additional value created.
Explore the examples: Read the announcement and download the full brochure from the European Bioeconomy Alliance.
At AgriVentures, we believe that connecting agricultural producers, researchers and innovators is essential to developing new bio-based value chains and building a more circular, competitive European agri-food sector.
Check out our guides for funding opportunities
https://projects.agriventures.co/resources
Agriventures Connect 3.0 is coming on 20th of April 2027 in Sofia, Bulgaria
https://connect.agriventures.co/
The role of Agriventures in supporting agrifood innovation
As the agritech startup ecosystem grows across Europe, initiatives such as Agriventures are helping connect entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, and policymakers working in agriculture and food innovation.
Agriventures focuses on supporting agrifood startups, biotechnology innovation, and access to European funding for agriculture, while also helping entrepreneurs navigate the complex landscape of startup financing, venture capital, and research commercialization.
By strengthening connections between startups, research institutions, investors, and farmers, Agriventures contributes to building a stronger agricultural innovation ecosystem that can accelerate the transition toward sustainable agriculture and resilient food systems.
Through knowledge sharing, events, and ecosystem building, Agriventures helps ensure that promising agritech innovations can scale and reach farmers, food producers, and global markets.
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