On 27 May 2026, seven EU-funded initiatives will join forces for a high-level event held in Brussels and online. Titled “Co-Creating Policy Recommendations for a Rural Bioeconomy,” this gathering seeks to bridge the existing gap between local innovation and European policymaking. The effort brings together 7 Standing Liaison Round Table (SLRT) projects, namely BBioNets, Soil-X-Change, AQUAGRI-KNOW, BRILIAN, C4B, Rural BioReFarmeries, and SOUL, in a joint mission to transform regional insights into a unified strategic vision.
A Strategic Framework for Rural Innovation
Designed as a “Policy Lab,” the event will create a dynamic space to share technical data and on-the-ground experiences, with a view to translating them into concrete recommendations. This mission has gained increased urgency following the introduction of the new European Bioeconomy Strategy. By pooling the expertise of seven distinct consortia, the sessions will focus on four primary objectives:
- Synthesising Multi-Project Evidence: Consolidate cross-border findings on sustainable resource management and bio-based value chains into actionable strategic insights aligned with the new European bioeconomy framework.
- Identifying Systemic Barriers: Evaluate the opportunities and challenges faced by EIP-AGRI Operational Groups, while simultaneously pinpointing the regulatory implications arising from the new European Bioeconomy Strategy that affect the scaling of bio-based initiatives.
- Co-designing Actionable Policy: Utilise a “Policy Lab” environment to transform technical implementation data into concrete recommendations for EU and regional decision-makers.
- Bridging the Research-Policy Gap: Facilitate direct dialogue between practitioners, EIP-AGRI Operational Groups, bio-based value chain actors, and institutional stakeholders to ensure local realities inform a unified Policy Roadmap.
Transforming Insights into Action
The day will open with a plenary session dedicated to aligning the strategic goals of the seven consortia. A keynote address from the EU CAP Network Support Facility will set the stage for the morning, followed by a series of strategic insights from the participating projects and an introduction to the “Policy Lab” methodology.
The programme will then transition into specialised working groups. One group will explore Sustainable Resource Management, examining how EIP-AGRI Operational Groups act as catalysts for soil, water, and biomass valorisation. Simultaneously, a second group will examine Regulatory Frameworks and Value Chains, debating the legislative shifts required to foster fair rural business models and a cooperative green biorefinery sector.
The journey will conclude with a Multi-Actor Roundtable. High-level representatives from the CBE-JU, EIP-AGRI, and other funding bodies will validate the findings, ensuring that the consolidated evidence reaches the heart of European decision-making.
Participation and Registration
To maintain a productive environment for the co-creation of the Policy Roadmap, physical attendance is by invitation only. Direct invitations have been issued to project partners and specific policy stakeholders to ensure a focused, high-level dialogue on-site.
However, the wider bioeconomy community is warmly invited to participate as Digital Delegates. Online attendees will have full access to the live-streamed plenary sessions, the strategic project insights, and the final synthesis roundtable where the roadmap will be validated.
