thERBN

Creating a thematic network for the European rural bioeconomy

Programme: Horizon Europe

Consortium: 20 partners including 3 consultants, 4 clusters, 6 technical centres and 7 practitioners from 11 different countries (Belgium, Spain, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Slovakia, Romania, France, Poland, Germany, Portugal).

French partners: Valorial and AC3A (Association of Chambers of Agriculture of the Atlantic Arc)

Dates: January 2025 – December 2027 (3 years)

Amount: €2,999,886.25

Theme: Bioeconomy

Ambitions

• Identify urgent needs in terms of co-product valorisation.
• Bring together solutions that have already been tested in the field, innovations from Operational Groups, and the results of national and European projects.
• Produce practical content (technical data sheets, videos, podcasts, etc.) distributed via the EU-Farmbook and thERBN platforms.
• Connect researchers, advisors and AKIS stakeholders to support more sustainable agricultural and rural models.

Calendar

• 2025 – Search for solutions to recycle residues from fruit and vegetable crops, vine stocks and straw. Selection of the two most innovative solutions, content production and organisation of two demonstration days.
• 2026 – Search for solutions to recycle livestock waste: manure and sheep’s wool. Selection of the most innovative solutions, content production and organisation of two demonstration days.
• 2027 – Search for solutions to recover residues from forestry: hedge trimmings. Selection of the most innovative solutions, production of content and organisation of two demonstration days.

Beneficiaries

The thERBN project has multiple beneficiaries, both direct and indirect.

• Farmers and foresters: They will see the value of their by-products increase thanks to new value chains.
• SMEs and bioeconomy industries: Companies will benefit from the technologies and models presented in the project, enabling them to diversify their activities and improve their competitiveness.
• Local authorities and regions: Partner regions will benefit from a strengthening of their bioeconomy ecosystem, creating new job opportunities and promoting greener growth.
• European consumers: They will have access to new bioeconomy products produced in a more sustainable way.
• Policy makers: Recommendations will be made to the European Commission to remove barriers and strengthen opportunities for bioeconomy sectors.