Posters – Annual BIOEAST Conference. “Refreshing macro-regionalresearch & innovation priorities for Central and Eastern Europe.” 9-10 April 2025

Enabling the transition towards circular and systemic BIOeconomy model regions by a Regions-to-Regions approach (BIO2REG) is a three-year European project that aims to transform greenhouse gas-intensive regions into bioeconomy model regions. The project drives systemic change by guiding regional stakeholders towards concrete, region-tailored measures to unlock their unique bioeconomy potential. Supported by a consortium of nine partners, our mission is to foster interregional knowledge and practice exchange and local community building by actively engaging regional stakeholders and experts—public administration, private businesses, and clusters.

BioBoosters is an Interreg BSR initiative that unites the expertise of nine international circular bioeconomy organizations to develop a model that fosters the growth of the circular bioeconomy and the valorization of by-products. BioBoosters brings together companies and research and development organizations seeking solutions to today's circular bioeconomy challenges and more sustainable business models through the international hackathon model. The goal of these hackathons is to facilitate collaboration between organizations, winning teams, start-ups, and growth companies. By leveraging a business-focused hackathon process, we aim to address the challenges faced by circular bioeconomy companies as they transition to circular economy business models.

SYMBA is a 36-month EU-funded project pioneering industrial symbiosis (IS) as a transformative solution to enhance sustainability, competitiveness, and resource independence in the European bio-based industry. By integrating past IS experiences into a novel circular symbiosis framework, SYMBA is revolutionizing bio-based solutions, shifting from a linear to a circular economy while minimizing environmental impact on soil, water, and air quality. Targeting five critical bio-based sectors, agri-food, plastic and packaging, textile, waste, and wastewater valorization, SYMBA fosters a co-creation approach, where industries, researchers, policymakers, and local communities collaborate to drive systemic change. The project is following a six-stage implementation process, beginning with mapping and assessing IS solutions using multi-criteria decision analysis, life cycle assessment, life cycle costing and social life cycle assessment. To demonstrate its impact, four high potential IS regions are being selected, with scalable criteria developed to establish future industrial hubs. The project also integrates the Asset-Based Community Development methodology, ensuring that regional adaptation focuses on strengths rather than challenges, fostering stronger industry-community cooperation. An AI-driven monitoring system will validate IS applications and optimize resource flows. Beyond methodology development, SYMBA acts as a catalyst for multi-actor collaboration, engaging stakeholders through cross-exchanges in the SYMBA Forum, virtual training with the Hubs4Circularity community, and interactive sessions with the New European Bauhaus network. The project will provide policy recommendations to EU decision-makers, addressing regulatory challenges and investment frameworks for Industrial Symbiosis Networks. In the context of Regional Innovation Valleys on Bioeconomy, SYMBA is laying the groundwork for establishing dynamic ecosystems of innovation and circular practices that will drive economic resilience, sustainable growth, and long-term transformation across both Eastern and Western European regions.

Potato late blight is a devastating disease caused by an oomycete, Phytophthora infestans. It can result in 100% yield losses in unprotected potato and tomato plantations, and it is a major challenge for organic cultivation of these crops. In high-input agriculture, late blight control requires intensive chemical protection which increases the financial and environmental cost of potato and tomato production. A sustainable, alternative solution for disease control is growing late blight resistant cultivars. The goals of this work were to: i) find new sources of resistance to late blight among wild potato relatives, ii) introduce new late blight resistance (Rpi) genes in potato breeding, and iii) investigate distribution and diversity of Rpi genes among existing potato cultivars. Using Diversity Array Technology, detached leaflet infection assays and genetic mapping, several Rpi genes have been discovered in wild potato relatives, including Rpi-phu1 from Solanum phureja, Rpi-rzc1 from S. ruiz-ceballosii and Rpi-mch1 from S. michoacanum. Through crossing at diploid level and marker-assisted selection (MAS), the Rpi-phu1 gene was pyramided with resistance of cv. Sárpo Mira, resulting in a new late blight resistant cultivar Gardena registered in Poland. MAS was also used to pyramid the Rpi-phu1 and Rpi-rzc1 genes in potato breeding lines.

Currently Slovakian (National Agricultural and Food Centre, Luzianky – NPPC) and Bulgarian (University of Food Technologies, Plovdiv, Department of Milk and Dairy Product) institutions are facing two different important challenges united by one goal: maximize the efficiency of agro-food production with the usage of natural resources (rose petal waste), based on circular economy approach and bioeconomy framework.

The National Agricultural and Food Centre (NPPC) is a contributory organisation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic. It was established in 2014 by merging several institutions providing sectoral agricultural and food research. It provides comprehensive research and collection of knowledge in the field of sustainable use and protection of natural resources, especially soil and water for plant cultivation and animal husbandry, ensuring the quality, safety, innovation and competitiveness of food and non-food products of agricultural origin, the production and non-production impact of agriculture on the environment and rural development and the transfer of agricultural research knowledge to users.

ELLIPSE project transforms industrial waste into valuable bioproducts by co-processing heterogeneous waste streams. This approach addresses waste from slaughterhouses, pulp and paper industry, dairy industry sludge, and glycerol, converting them into polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and bio-based fertilizers (BBFs) for agricultural and personal care applications. The project started in May 2023 and is funded by Circular Bio-Based Europe Joint Undertaking under G.A. No 101112581 and during the first year, significant progress was made in optimizing the production of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) from the waste streams. The consortium focused on characterizing and selecting suitable waste samples, optimizing pre-treatment methods, and conducting acidogenic fermentation tests. Key results include: 1.Waste Characterization and Selection: Samples from various processes in the pulp and paper industry and organic waste from Green Generation were analyzed for parameters such as total solids, volatile solids, pH, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and biogas yield. Samples with the most promising results for acidification were selected for further analysis. 2.Pre-treatment Trials: Various physical and chemical pre-treatments were tested to enhance VFA yield. Heat treatment proved most effective, increasing soluble COD (sCOD) by 15-40%. However, combining multiple pre-treatments did not significantly improve results. 3.Acidogenic Fermentation Tests: Fermentation tests evaluated the efficiency of VFA production under different pH conditions. The best results were achieved under basic conditions (pH 10), with glycerine, sludge, and bellygrass producing the highest concentrations of VFAs. These VFAs predominantly included acetic, propionic, and butyric acids. These results demonstrated the feasibility of converting diverse waste streams into valuable VFAs, which can be processed into PHAs and BBFs. Future work will focus on optimizing fermentation parameters and exploring downstream concentration techniques to enhance VFA production and PHA quality. The final products will consist of rigid packaging, mulching film, biofertilizer and packaging for agricultural sector.

Polyphenolic compounds are the main component in vegetal samples. These natural compounds have bio-active properties making them valuable across multiple industries. One of the primary benefits of polyphenols compounds is their strong anti-oxidant activity, acting as preventing or scavenging free radicals induced oxidative damaging. Therefore, the development of extraction methods that preserve the bio-activity of polyphenolic compounds while ensuring safety and sustainability is essential for achieving a balance between industrial development and ecological responsibility. The aim of our work was to study the efficiency of the Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE), a green technology, on Rosa canina L. fruits, rich in bio-active compounds. The polyphenolic compounds profile of extracts had different composition depending on solvent composition, extraction time and sample amount, but the order of the analysed polyphenolic compounds had been preserved, namely ellagic acid > quercitrin > quercetin 3-D-glucoside > catechin > chlorogenic acid > gallic acid > rutin > quercetin > kaempferol. Also, antioxidant activity was strongly affected by ASE operational parameters. When an aqueous medium was used, the antioxidant activity had higher values by 35%. Growing the extraction time by 3 times had led to an increase in the antioxidant activity by 1.5 times. Leveraging ASE optimizes resource use, achieving comparable yields of essential nutrients, vitamins, and antioxidants from rosehip with significantly reduced solvent and energy consumption. This method enhances extraction efficiency and aligns with sustainability goals by minimizing waste and environmental impact. As demand for natural products grows, ASE emerges as a promising approach to maximize the quality and yield of extracts while conserving vital resources.

CEE2ACT – Empowering Central and Eastern European Countries to Develop Circular Bioeconomy Strategies - is a project funded by the European Union. CEE2ACT aims to facilitate the transition towards a circular bioeconomy in Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries by supporting the development of national bioeconomy strategies and action plans. The project fosters a bottom-up approach, emphasizing stakeholder engagement, co-creation, and innovative governance models. CEE2ACT is actively working in 10 CEE countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia), leveraging expertise and best practices from contributing countries (Austria, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Finland, Sweden). Through the establishment of National Bioeconomy Hubs, stakeholders collaborate in workshops, training sessions, and knowledge-sharing platforms to co-create tailored roadmaps for bioeconomic development. Expected impacts: (a)Development of the National Bioeconomy Hubs in CEE countries without bioeconomy strategies, applying a bottom-up approach and co-creation methods in the creation of targeted national bioeconomy strategies. (b)Deepened cooperation for bioeconomy policy development in CEE2ACT countries, supporting the green transition and climate neutrality leading to a more informed decision-making process. (c)Increased awareness and skills related to the bioeconomy, the drivers of the green transition and good practices on stakeholder engagement in co-creating bioeconomy roadmaps. E-solutions. (d)Online inventory providing examples of good practices, enabling access to information and exchange of know-how; (e)E-Learning platform offering interactive exercises, and a set of online courses; (f)Self-assessment tool supporting administrative bodies to evaluate the current state of development, providing recommendations to set a suitable framework for bioeconomy initiatives implementation and the green transition; (g)Business-to-business matchmaking tool enabling interested stakeholders to build partnerships to result in concrete projects or cooperation. As a part of the Rural Bioeconomy Alliance (RBA), CEE2ACT contributes to a broader European effort to promote sustainable bioeconomy initiatives, unlocking the full potential of biomass and fostering partnerships across sectors.

ManuREfinery is a project developing innovative solutions for the sustainable management of manure through smart modular mobile biorefining technologies in rural areas. It implements modern small-scale decentralized biorefineries that transform manure into useful products, contributing to pollution reduction and an improved standard of living of farmers and local communities. It does so with a holistic approach to manure management aligned with global sustainability goals and supporting rural development through: -Research and Development: Innovation and improvement of refining technologies, for mobile and modular units will allow on-site processing of manure. -Pilot Testing: Studies will be conducted in selected rural pilot areas (1 pig farm and 1 chicken farm in Romania; 1 pig farm in Spain, 1 cattle farm in Slovenia). -Collaboration: A collaborative approach was chosen for the implementation of the project and identification of solutions for the specific needs of the local rural communities. -Education and Training: During the project, certain educational and training activities for technical skills necessary for biorefinery will be carried out for specialists from the respective rural communities. The main outputs are: - Biorefining Technology: modern, portable, small-sized and adaptable modular biorefinery units. - Nutrient-Rich Bioingredients: high-quality fertilizers and animal feed ingredients derived from the processed manure. - Data and Guidelines: valuable data on the performance of biorefining systems, alongside practical guidelines for their implementation. - Impact Assessments: detailed evaluation reports generated to assess the environmental, social, and economic impacts of the project. Significance of the project - Addresses waste management challenges in rural areas. - Contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions linked to traditional manure disposal methods. - Identifies solutions for enhancing nutrient recovery, leading to improved soil health and agricultural productivity. - Encourages sustainable practices that can be adopted by farmers, contributing to food security. - Gives ideas for the creation of new markets for bioingredients.

The integration of industrial crops into the bioeconomy provides a sustainable approach to agricultural development by reducing reliance on fossil-based resources and promoting environmental conservation. This study reviews the role of industrial crops within the bioeconomy, their applications, and their socio-economic and environmental implications. It highlights the benefits of industrial crops in addressing land use competition, economic challenges, and environmental concerns while emphasizing the need for supportive policies. A critical literature review was conducted to examine the role of industrial crops in the bioeconomy and the agricultural sector. The research utilizes desk studies, logical analysis, expert methods, and graphic representation to assess the current state of the issue. To further analyze regional bioeconomy development through industrial crops, the study applies the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) approach, which evaluates social, environmental, and economic dimensions. Originally introduced by John Elkington in 1994, the TBL framework is widely adopted for assessing the sustainability of businesses and industries. By applying this framework, the study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the regional performance of bioeconomy production. The findings contribute to the broader discussion on sustainable agricultural practices and the role of industrial crops in fostering economic and ecological resilience. The study underscores the importance of strategic policies and regional adaptation to maximize the benefits of industrial crops in the bioeconomy.

The transition to sustainable agricultural practices plays a crucial role in advancing the bioeconomy in agriculture, emphasizing resource efficiency, environmental sustainability, and innovative biological solutions. Our research highlights innovative approaches undertaken in Poland to promote agroecology, enhance biodiversity, and develop sustainable plant protection strategies. The Institute of Plant Protection – National Research Institute (IPP-NRI) has conducted studies aimed at supporting organic farming interventions, biodiversity protection, and biological plant protection methods. Key initiatives include: 1) Utilization of beneficial microorganisms: Research into Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria (PGPB) and entomopathogenic fungi/nematodes to improve plant resilience; 2) Basic substances and natural plant protection strategies: Evaluating the effectiveness of natural compounds, such as sunflower oil, chitosan, and onion bulb extract, in reducing pesticide reliance; 3) Biodiversity-focused interventions: Implementation of flower strips as elements of green infrastructure to support pollinators and arthropod diversity, ensuring ecosystem stability. Field trials have demonstrated the potential of these methods to increase yield while maintaining environmental integrity. Ongoing projects, supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, provide updated recommendations tailored to organic farming conditions. The results of these experiments contribute to the development of a bio-based agricultural sector by integrating scientific advancements with practical farming applications, ensuring that sustainable strategies become integral to modern agricultural practices in Central and Eastern Europe.

Effective stakeholder engagement is key to achieving sustainability, resource efficiency, and economic inclusivity. In particular, the transition to a sustainable bioeconomy requires active participation from diverse stakeholders. This engagement happens through multi-stakeholder platforms and cross-sectoral collaborations, public-private partnerships, and transparent communication, ensuring all voices are heard in decision-making. ShapingBio (EU funded project) addresses these challenges by mapping and analyzing bioeconomy initiatives, policies, and structural gaps across four EU macro-regions (Central and Eastern Europe, the Baltic Sea Region, Western Europe, and Southern Europe), focusing on four key areas to enhance bioeconomy development (1. policy and governance, 2. applied R&D and technology transfer, 3. stakeholder collaboration, 4. financing mechanisms). The project employs a structured and participatory approach, including stakeholder engagement, evidence-based research, and cross-sectoral cooperation, to identify critical gaps and support policy alignment. In fact, ShapingBio dedicated one of its main pillars to the promotion of co-creation processes in the bioeconomy sector. Among others, stakeholders have been included in the testing and validation process to ensure effective and high-quality recommendations to be shared with the European Commission. Through extensive mapping and analysis, ShapingBio provides targeted recommendations to policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers. By fostering collaboration and knowledge transfer, the project enhances the deployment of bio-based solutions, reducing fragmentation and strengthening the bioeconomy ecosystem. This poster presents ShapingBio’s methodology, key findings, and expected outcomes, emphasizing coordinated efforts to shape a resilient and sustainable bioeconomy in Europe.

BBioNets is an EU-funded thematic network dedicated to fostering the adoption of Bio-Based Technologies (BBTs) in agriculture and forestry, contributing to a more sustainable and circular bioeconomy. The project collaborates with EIP-AGRI Operational Groups to enhance the sustainable management and processing of agricultural and forest biomass. A key initiative of BBioNets is the establishment of six regional Forest and Agriculture Networks (FANs) across Ireland, Greece, Spain, Italy, Poland, and Czech Republic. These networks engage Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS) stakeholders, including farmers, foresters, researchers, and policymakers, to co-create and implement practical bioeconomy solutions. By identifying regional needs and prioritizing BBTs, BBioNets ensures that innovative practices are effectively integrated into existing value chains. BBioNets develops assessment tools and user-friendly materials to support decision-making, providing guidance on bio-based innovations that enhance resource efficiency and environmental sustainability. By facilitating knowledge exchange and strengthening cross-sectoral collaboration, BBioNets positions Europe at the forefront of bioeconomy advancements.This poster will showcase the impact of BBioNets in promoting bioeconomy best practices and fostering innovation in the BIOEAST macro-region. Attendees will gain insights into successful case studies, practical applications of BBTs, and opportunities for collaboration in sustainable agriculture and forestry.

MountResilience (Accelerating transformative climate adaptation for higher resilience in European mountain regions) is a Horizon Europe project involving 47 partners from 13 European countries. The project will support European regions and communities located in mountainous areas to increase their capacity to adapt to climate change and to transition towards a climate-resilience society. The project will conceptualise, test, and scale up multi-level, multidimensional and re-applicable climate change adaptation and nature-based solutions addressing policy and societal needs, as well as citizen behaviors, to address specific climate impacts in mountainous regions. As part of this effort, the Râu Sadului regional demonstrator in Romania is implementing complex interventions to restore mountain grasslands and improve their productivity. In 2024, a 3-hectare area was prepared for overseeding and fertilization to identify optimal forage grass mixtures for the specific conditions of the site. After utilizing drone technology for NDVI scanning of the target area, diverse seed mixes were selected and sown, including species like Festuca arundinacea and Trifolium repens, at 65kg/ha. Techniques like mulching and precise seed distribution were employed, with areas marked for monitoring. Following overseeding, fertilization was conducted using a bio-conventional NPK 12-12-12 fertilizer and biological stimulants like Atlanticell Nitromix and Cropmax, applied via drone. Early results indicate that some mixtures have already established themselves well on the experimental plots, within a few weeks after overseeding, but the interventions are in progress and their evolution in time has to be monitored. These interventions aim to enhance soil fertility, promote root development, and improve nutrient uptake, ultimately creating a sustainable grazing environment. The goal is to improve livestock productivity and contribute to the socio-economic development of the mountain area through enhanced pasture quality.

Recent advances in 3D printing technologies have significantly expanded the possibilities in biomedical engineering, especially through the development of advanced bioactive biomaterials. This review explores the latest innovations in the design, synthesis, and application of bioactive materials tailored for 3D printing, with a focus on their role in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and personalized healthcare solutions. We examine categories such as bioceramics, natural and synthetic polymers, composite hydrogels, and bioinks enhanced with nanoparticles or biologically active agents. Key criteria such as biocompatibility, printability, mechanical stability, and biodegradability are discussed in relation to their suitability for additive manufacturing processes. Moreover, the integration of smart functionalities—such as antimicrobial activity, controlled drug release, or cell signaling modulation—is highlighted as a transformative trend in the development of next-generation biomaterials. Finally, the review addresses the current challenges in translating these materials from the lab to clinical applications, including regulatory barriers, scalability, and long-term performance. This overview aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the evolving landscape of bioactive biomaterials for 3D printing and to identify future research directions in this rapidly growing interdisciplinary field.

The bioeconomy holds immense potential to address pressing global challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity, and sustainable development. However, unlocking its full societal and economic impact depends not only on scientific breakthroughs, but also on how effectively the resulting knowledge is valorized - translated into practical applications, policies, and innovations. The valorization of research knowledge in the bioeconomy sector is crucial for bridging the gap between scientific advancements and real-world applications. Despite the increasing number of bioeconomy-related studies, effective knowledge transfer and utilization remain significant challenges. This work explores the state-of-the-art in knowledge valorization, highlighting key mechanisms - such as technology transfer, intellectual property management, stakeholder engagement, and policy integration - alongside common barriers and best practices. The findings provide actionable insights into how scientific knowledge can be more efficiently transferred to industry, policymakers, and society, supporting the transition toward a sustainable and circular bioeconomy.

The EU Horizon-funded project BioRural – Accelerating circular bio-based solutions integration in European rural areas aims to drive the adoption of sustainable, small-scale bio-based innovations across rural Europe. By establishing a pan-European Rural Bioeconomy Network, BioRural connects a diverse range of stakeholders—from researchers and innovators to farmers and rural communities—to promote bio-based solutions that enhance local value, resilience, and development in remote areas. To support the transition toward a sustainable, regenerative, inclusive, and just circular Bioeconomy, BioRural implements a three-pillar intervention scheme that feeds into a publicly accessible BioRural Toolkit. This approach facilitates stakeholder collaboration at both regional and EU levels, assesses the current landscape of the rural bioeconomy, captures grassroots needs and ideas, promotes knowledge exchange through targeted workshops, and develops scalable business model blueprints for rural bioeconomy ventures.

Pulvinaria vitis, commonly known as the cottony grape scale, has become an increasingly important pest in vineyards, under the influence of climate change and the declining use of chemical pesticides. This soft-scale insect threatens grapevine through phloem feeding, honeydew secretion that promotes sooty mold, and its role in transmitting grapevine viruses such as GLRaV-1 and Grapevine virus A. Warmer temperatures are accelerating its development and potentially increasing the number of generations per year, making pest outbreaks more severe and unpredictable. As traditional chemical control methods face growing restrictions and environmental scrutiny, biological control has gained renewed importance as part of integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. Several natural enemies have shown promise against P. vitis, including parasitoid wasps like Metaphycus annasor and Coccophagus spp., predatory beetles such as Exochomus quadripustulatus, Chilocorus bipustulatus, and Rhyzobius lophanthae, and entomopathogenic nematodes like Steinernema carpocapsae, which has demonstrated high efficacy in lab trials. The pest's biology is highly temperature-dependent, with early spring activity and rapid development in warm conditions potentially desynchronizing it from natural enemies. These shifts require adaptive IPM approaches, including regular monitoring of crawler stages, habitat management to support beneficial insects, targeted ant control, and cautious pesticide use to preserve biological control agents. Biological control offers a sustainable, approach to managing P. vitis, particularly when integrated with climate-resilient IPM practices tailored to vineyard ecosystems.

In the global shift from a fossil-based economy towards a circular and sustainable bioeconomy, filamentous fungi can provide new, innovative, and sustainable solutions to advance the production of various commercially interesting bio-based products, ranging from biofuels at the bottom of the bio-based pyramid to value-added products at its top. This work presents the chronological development of fungal-based products at the Faculty of Food Technology Osijek, based on fungal solid-state fermentation technology.

We are witnessing an increasing emphasis on sustainable economic models, with the bioeconomy as a key tool in the transition towards a more sustainable future. Its significance is growing not only on a global scale but also at national levels, where it plays a crucial role in various economic sectors. One such sector is forestry, which in Slovakia holds great potential to become a fundamental pillar of the bioeconomy. This has led to the recognition of a more specific concept—the forest-based bioeconomy—tailored to reflect national characteristics, available resources, and the structure of the forestry sector. As a specialized educational and research institution, the Technical University in Zvolen (TUZVO) actively contributes to both the study and the teaching of bioeconomy. Research has been aimed at identifying shifts in the perception of bioeconomy within Slovak society, with a particular focus on the urban public and TUZVO students. The objective is to examine how public discourse on bioeconomy has evolved over the past five years, how knowledge and attitudes among different groups have changed, and what role education plays in shaping these perspectives. We believe that the findings of the research will contribute to a deeper understanding of this issue and will help further the development of the bioeconomy, not only in academia but also in practice.

To help universities achieve the highest international level of scientific results, the Lithuanian state allocated by 2027 a total of approximately 60 million euros for this purpose. Universities were invited to prepare project implementation plans for the establishment of centers of excellence in advanced research fields in order to achieve the foreseen goals. Vytautas Magnus University has chosen bioeconomy research as a strategic research area. Therefore, a plan to establish the Bioeconomy Research Center of Excellence (BioTEC) was prepared. The aim of BioTEC is to strengthen the quality of R&D in areas of Agronomy and Environmental Engineering by developing advanced, high quality research. Research topics of the Center include healthy soil and plants, sustainable agriculture and food systems, digitization and robotization of agriculture, climate change and the importance of sustainable use of resources. BioTEC creates added value for the state, Vytautas Magnus University and Agriculture Academy. Scientists are provided with conditions to strengthen their competences, conduct research, create innovations, publish open access scientific articles in prestigious scientific publications with a high citation index, and participate in high level conferences. Innovations created by scientists are further adopted and commercialized by business. Moreover, the mission of the Center is to attract more foreign experts working in strategic research fields of BioTEC and find young talents. For the effective operation of BioTEC, it was necessary to create a modern infrastructure, purchase equipment, and provide funds necessary for scientific research activities. BioTEC scientists prepare proposals and carry out national and international projects that translate innovative solutions into practice, actively involving stakeholders, including farmers, agricultural specialists, agribusiness companies, and policymakers.

BioINSouth project aims to support regional policymakers in integrating ecological limits into bioeconomy strategies and roadmaps for circular bio-based activities. By developing guidelines and digital tools within the safe and sustainable by design (SSbD) assessment framework, the project fosters innovative methodologies for assessing environmental impacts across various industrial bio-based systems. Targeting Southern Mediterranean European regions, particularly those lagging behind such as Cyprus, Slovenia, Greece, and Portugal, BioINSouth will also involve broader participation from Spain, France, Italy, and international cooperation with Türkiye. Leveraging the BIOEAST initiative that focuses on central Europe, BioINSouth will establish QH-based regional Multi-Actor Regional Groups (MARGs) to lead co-creation activities in the establishment of eight bioeconomy-oriented regional HUBs in Campania (Italy), Peloponnese (Greece), Andalusia and Asturias (Spain), Centro (Portugal), Slovenia, Nouvelle-Aquitaine (France), and Cyprus. These HUBs will promote the exchange of best practices, and foster innovative methodologies for assessing environmental impacts and circularity in bio-based sectors. BioINSouth aims to enhance regional competitiveness, innovation capacity, and contribute to the EU's fair and green transition.

Wood stores carbon. It is about 250 kg of carbon or 920 kg of CO2 equivalent stored in 1m3 of wood. Therefore, support for creating conditions for use of wood in long life cycle products like building construction supports climatic goals towards carbon neutrality. Wood-based buildings are seen in policies as an option for energy savings through material substitution and reduction of CO2 emissions. Wood buildings are finished faster and their construction is 4-5 times less energy demanding compared to brick or concrete buildings. In addition to that, wood is a local and sustainably produced raw material and there is also a high potential in woody material recovery. The construction industry is very important to the EU economy where the sector provides 18 million direct jobs and contributes to about 9% of the EU's GDP, thus, support of building from wood has strong potential to support growth of circular bioeconomy.

Circular economy and management of renewable resources belong to principles of bioeconomy. Special attention is given to biomass, biodegradable waste recycling and production of bio-based products. The INNO-MIK project responds to the bioeconomy concepts and the need to adapt agriculture to climate change. Its main objective is to develop technologies of organic biofertiliser production based on various types of biodegradable waste and selected microorganisms. Such technologies are aimed at supporting sustainable crop production and biowaste waste circular management. The technologies are especially dedicated to counteracting crop stress under drought conditions, therefore they support adaptation of agriculture to the commonly observed water deficits in vegetation period. The technologies are being developed for producing three types of biofertilizers based on liquid digestate, compost and biochar. The biofertilizers are carriers of microorganisms that exhibit mechanisms supporting plant growth under drought conditions. The reactors simulating the conditions of fermentation, composting and torrefaction are used to produce substrates maximally rich in phytohormones and humic substances and serving as carriers of the dedicated bacteria. Digestates, composts and biochar provide organic matter to soil that improves water retention capacity of soil. The greenhouse and field experiments showed strong beneficial effect of microbially enriched organic products on crop resistance to water deficit. The project Nr LIDER/36/0184/L-12/20/NCBR/2021, financed by the The National Centre for Research and Development.

Amid growing pressure on ecosystems from nutrient pollution and soaring fertiliser prices, recovering nitrogen and phosphorus from waste streams offers a promising solution to address both challenges. This approach not only supports the production of alternative fertilisers (and other food system inputs) at competitive costs but also contributes to cleaner soils, air, and water. The NENUPHAR project was designed to meet this challenge by developing innovative governance frameworks and value chain solutions focused on three common EU waste streams: manure, sewage sludge, and dairy wastewater. It introduces four key innovations: (i) a methodology to estimate nitrogen and phosphorus emissions from fertiliser use on soils, (ii) new governance models based on network governance principles, (iii) novel economic and financial incentives for both public and private actors, and (iv) enabling technologies for nutrient recovery from the identified waste streams. NENUPHAR’s approach will be tested in three diverse regional clusters across major river basins: the Ebro (Spain), the Lielupe (Latvia-Lithuania), and the Danube (Hungary-Slovakia), with replication efforts in two insular contexts – Cyprus and Bornholm (Denmark). The project’s demonstration phase is expected to recover 273 tonnes of nitrogen and 72 tonnes of phosphorus. Across all participating regions, there is a broader potential to treat 38.3 million tonnes of manure, 252,000 tonnes of dry sludge, and 4.3 million cubic metres of dairy wastewater. The project’s demonstration phase is expected to recover 273 tonnes of nitrogen and 72 tonnes of phosphorus. Across all participating regions, there is a broader potential to treat 38.3 million tonnes of manure, 252,000 tonnes of dry sludge, and 4.3 million cubic metres of dairy wastewater. To ensure impact and inclusivity, NENUPHAR will follow a multi-stakeholder model, involving 21 partners, including farmers, irrigators, waste managers, researchers in circular economy and agronomy, social scientists, environmental NGOs, and public authorities. The NENUPHAR project directly contributes to the advancement of the circular bioeconomy: by closing nutrient loops and reintegrating recovered nitrogen and phosphorus back into the agricultural system, the project reduces reliance on synthetic fertilisers, lowers environmental pollution, and enhances resource efficiency.

This poster describes a strategic concept for the Lithuanian bioeconomy. We aimed to create a conceptual basis for the preparation of a national bioeconomy strategy and/or action plan in order to initiate a deeper discussion about the strategically oriented development of a knowledge-based circular bioeconomy in Lithuania. Our strategic insights are focused on two niche energy sectors like biofuels and biogas. The results of the SWOT analysis reveal that, in Lithuania, a synthesis of the biofuels and biogas sectors' strategic directions is necessary to develop over-arching national bioeconomy-appropriate strategic actions, such as market intervention actions, research, innovation and education actions, as well as governance and policy actions.