Biomass Waste in the Primary Sector: A Path to Sustainable Bioeconomy

Introduction

Each year, Europe generates nearly 924 million tons dry matter (Mtdm) per year. Up to 54 % of the biomass produced is economic production while the remaining 46 % is residues primarily from agriculture [1] and a minor part from forestry, and fisheries. Hence, 425 million tonnes of waste still aren’t being reused. Instead, they end up in landfills or are incinerated without recovering any of the energy or value they could provide.

However, these materials are far from worthless. Residual biomass can be transformed into valuable resources that reduce reliance on fossil fuels, boost rural economies, and address resource shortages. These overlooked materials can serve as cost-effective and environmentally friendly feedstocks, creating new bioeconomy value chains, and driving sustainable innovation.

Primary producers (farmers, foresters, and fishers) are at the heart of this transformation. They manage and provide the raw materials that could fuel a sustainable bioeconomy. By adopting sustainable practices and working with other stakeholders, they can ensure that residual biomass is repurposed into high-value products rather than wasted.

To make this shift possible, stronger connections between primary producers and bioeconomy stakeholders are essential. Practical partnerships, shared resources, and effective communication channels can enable the efficient use of residual biomass.

Living Labs: A foundation for biomass valorization

To address this challenge, the European Commission has been actively promoting the establishment of Living Labs (LLABs) within European projects in recent years. LLABs are real-world, user-centered environments where stakeholders collaborate to test, co-create, and validate innovative solutions. [2] They bring researchers, industries, technology providers, primary producers, and local communities into a collaborative space to ensure that the developed technologies and processes are practical, sustainable, and scalable at the local and regional levels.

By connecting stakeholders across the value chain, these environments empower participants to to make necessary changes in their business operations, enabling them to use resources more efficiently, cost-effectively, and in an environmentally friendly manner.

PRIMED, building on the LLAB Model

PRIMED, a European initiative, builds directly on the LLAB approach. This project is designed to transform residual biomass from the primary sectors into valuable bio-based products. Its goal is to position primary producers as key contributors to sustainable, circular value chains.

To achieve this, PRIMED has established five Bioeconomy Living Labs (LLABs) across Europe. These labs serve as regional demonstration hubs, showcasing innovative technologies that convert underused biomass into at least ten high-value products. Each LLAB addresses unique regional challenges, tailoring solutions to local needs while ensuring adaptability and scalability.

Our LLABs are:

  • LLAB1 (Spain): Focuses on converting livestock and agricultural waste into bioenergy and biofertilizers.
  • LLAB2 (Portugal): Specializes in extracting and enhancing bio-based silica from agro-residues.
  • LLAB3 (Italy): Works on transforming fisheries waste into biostimulants for agriculture and valorising agro-products to produce biofertilizers.
  • LLAB4 (Ireland): Processes dairy by-products and forestry biomass to generate lactic acid and biochar.
  • LLAB5 (Finland): Employs plant biotechnology to develop food ingredients from agri-food side streams or create cosmetic products.

Collaboration for effective circular value chains

PRIMED’s strategy extends beyond the technological innovation showcased in its LLABs. The initiative integrates economic models, stakeholder collaboration, and practical tools to ensure lasting impact.

Central to this effort are Circular Business Models (CBMBs), which provide a framework for integrating biomass valorization into sustainable and economically viable practices. Developed within each LLAB, these CBMBs are tailored to regional contexts, ensuring they align with local needs while remaining scalable for broader application.

This collaborative framework is guided by PRIMED’s multi-actor approach, which connects diverse stakeholders across the bioeconomy. Specifically, we aim to connect feedstock providers (who supply the raw materials) with technology providers (who transform these materials into valuable products) and end-users (who benefit from the results). This ensures that all perspectives are included, creating practical and widely supported solutions.

To further support collaboration, PRIMED is also creating an open-access digital toolbox that will facilitate cooperation among stakeholders across Europe. This toolbox will be available after the project’s completion, ensuring its impact lasts beyond the duration of the initiative.

Stakeholder engagement

We’re talking about engagement and collaboration, but what does it look like? One way the project achieves this is through Open Calls, which invite end-users to validate and implement circular solutions in real-world settings. This initiative offers funding of up to 50k€ each to implement and validate circular solutions in real-world environments, i.e. in our five LLABs.

The 1st Open Call has successfully concluded, with four end-users already selected to participate in the project. In March 2025, we will launch the 2nd Open Call, which will remain open until the end of May.

This engagement is a critical step toward ensuring that PRIMED’s innovations deliver real-world results. By connecting practical solutions with the people who will use them, the project bridges the gap between innovation and real-world application, ensuring that its work has both local and regional impact.

Resources reimagined

What is often dismissed as waste holds the potential to reshape industries, economies, and ecosystems. PRIMED demonstrates that innovation is not about creating something entirely new but about reimagining how existing resources can be used. Through localized solutions and collaborative efforts, it provides a clear path toward sustainable practices that balance economic progress with environmental responsibility.

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Authors: Júlia Gómez and Lucía Salinas