Circular bio-based innovations in Europe are opening up more and more opportunities for the primary sector. They can generate new sources of income, support prosperity in rural areas, and encourage generational renewal. Primary producers play a triple role in bio-based value chain: business partners, co-innovators and biomass processors. Primary producers can join forces with other actors of the value chain to develop winning project proposals.  Industries can involve them in the early testing and adapting of products for application in primary production. Long-term contractual agreements and other economic-legal cooperation models allow industry and primary producers to invest and build sustainable businesses. Primary producers can pre-process and store residues and by-products before it is collected and distributed regionally. Together, this can create a win-win situation for all actors of the value chain.

However, in practice, this potential is still far from being fully realised. Too often, primary producers are treated merely as suppliers of raw materials rather than as equal partners in innovation, business development, and value creation. As a result, neither the primary sector nor the bio-based value chains are able to reach their full potential.

Many primary producers still face challenges such as limited information, low awareness, and structural, financial, or regulatory barriers that significantly hinder their participation in new value chains and innovations.

This can change! That is why this Action Plan was created: to strengthen the role of farmers, foresters, fishers, and aquaculture producers as active partners in the European circular bioeconomy, so that everyone can benefit.

The CBE JU is a public-private partnership funded by the European Union and the Bio-based Industries Consortium. Its main objective is to accelerate the transition towards a competitive, sustainable, and circular bioeconomy in Europe.

To achieve this, the CBE JU supports research, innovation, and cooperation projects that transform biological resources — such as agricultural residues, forestry by-products, algae, or fisheries waste — into sustainable products and applications. These include bio-based materials, chemicals, fuels, packaging, textiles, and industrial solutions.

Within this work, the primary sector has always been a central priority for the CBE JU. With the establishment of the Working Group on Primary Producers (WGPP) in June 2025, the focus has become even stronger on identifying practical solutions for farmers, foresters, fishers, and aquaculture producers. Particular attention is given to new business models and stronger collaboration with the bio-based industry.

The working group aims to empower agriculture, forestry, aquaculture and fisheries to better harness the opportunities offered by circular bio-based innovations and is following these objectives:

1. Enhancing the role and support an effective and rewarding engagement of primary producers along the circular bio-based systems and value chains
2. Ensure that primary sectors benefit from the economic, social and environmental opportunities offered by circular and bio-based innovations and solutions (supported by long-term sustainable and feasible business models).

[Business models are those at the level of the primary producer, but also of the cooperative, and the private company developing innovative bio-based materials and products and production facilities.]

Primary Producers are defined as entities operating in the agriculture, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture primary sectors performing activities related to the production, harvest, handling, and storage of biological resources before being either processed or distributed. The production of biological resources is a key part of the activities of the entity.

The Working Group on Primary Producers (WGPP) was established during its 1^st annual meeting on 11 June 2025 in Warsaw. The group members regularly met online with the RootLinks team (CBE JU funded project supporting the activities of the WGPP) to discuss needs, analyse barriers, explore future scenarios, and ultimately co-create the Action Plan.

The development process was iterative and strongly driven by the perspectives of the primary sectors represented in the WGPP: agriculture, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture. The actions originated within the sectoral groups, complemented by horizontal discussions where common themes and cross-sector challenges were identified. The WGPP Chair and Vice-Chairs representing different sectors of the WGPP have a driving role in ensuring that the action plan addresses the priorities and needs of the sectors. The process is oversighted by a Strategic Committee composed of members of CBE JU and its partners, the European Commission and the Bio-Based Industries Consortium, ensuring that the action plan remains under the scope of CBE JU activities. CBE JU acts as the secretariat of this WGPP.

The actions were repeatedly reviewed and further adjusted within the groups. Through this continuous exchange, an initial broad range of ideas was gradually transformed into a targeted list of concrete, tangible, and achievable actions that reflect the realities and needs of the primary sector.

At first glance: for primary producers in European agriculture, forestry, and the blue primary sectors (fisheries and aquaculture) as this plan was developed by them. But there is more to it. This plan aims to build stronger links between the primary sector, industry, research, regional authorities, and many other actors involved in bio-based value chains. In the end, everyone can benefit when underused biomass and biological resources are transformed into sustainable, circular, and economically viable solutions.

The simple answer is: anyone who wants to contribute. Although the WGPP developed ideas and will support their implementation, the Action Plan can only succeed through cooperation with many different actors. This includes businesses, researchers, regional authorities, policymakers, clusters, and others connected to bio-based value chains. Working together helps not only to implement the actions, but also to raise awareness, share knowledge, and create wider positive effects across sectors and regions. In other words, the more people and organisations get involved, the greater the potential impact of the Action Plan. If you think you can contribute in any way, we encourage you to take part.

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Actions are practical measures designed through a bottom-up process by representatives of the primary sectors themselves. Their aim is to help primary producers become active and equal partners in emerging circular bio-based value chains. Because the actions were co-created by the sectors directly, they are based on real experiences and practical needs rather than abstract policy discussions. The Action Plan includes 8 actions in total: 2 for each sector and 2 horizontal actions that are relevant across all sectors.

All actions aim to deliver practical outcomes that help primary producers engage more effectively in circular bio-based value chains. Depending on the action, these outcomes may include improved knowledge exchange, stronger collaboration, better access to practical guidance and decision-support tools, new business opportunities, or enhanced advisory services. Most actions will be implemented through workshops, tools, matchmaking activities, knowledge exchange and practical guidance. Where relevant, they will also produce digital repositories, toolkits or knowledge platforms that will remain available after the project ends, supporting long-term use, wider uptake and continued knowledge sharing across Europe.

The WGPP includes 3 sectors: agriculture, aquatic primary sector (fisheries and aquaculture) and forestry. Each sector co-created 2 actions that respond to its own needs and challenges. These actions focus on practical opportunities and support for the respective sector.

Horizontal actions have 2 main purposes. On the one hand, they tackle topics and challenges that are relevant across all 3 sectors. On the other hand, they create opportunities for sectors to exchange ideas, learn from each other, and work more closely together. In this way, all sectors benefit and grow together.

All actions give special attention to the participation of primary producers from different regions, with particular attention to widening participation and ensuring the involvement of less represented regions and stakeholders (in line with the CBE JU widening strategy). The Action Plan builds on existing projects, networks and initiatives instead of creating completely new structures. The focus is on practical and concrete solutions that respond to real daily challenges of primary producers.

The WGPP owns the Action Plan and helps guide its implementation.

The group includes actors from agriculture, forestry, aquaculture and fisheries. Members share knowledge through their networks, support workshops and events, help develop and review training materials, and contribute practical expertise and examples. They can also support demo visits, facilitate discussions, and help monitor results and lessons learned. WGPP members will use the tools, methodologies and knowledge developed through the Action Plan and will benefit from the opportunities it creates. Throughout the process, they work closely with the RootLinks team and the Strategic Committee, which includes representatives from CBE JU, BIC and the European Commission.

RootLinks is an EU-funded project with 9 partners from 8 countries. The consortium brings together expertise in bioeconomy, stakeholder engagement and action plan development. RootLinks supports and coordinates the implementation of the Action Plan. The project team facilitates cooperation within the WGPP and connects with additional actors, networks and organisations to support the different activities and actions.

Other partners will also support the implementation of the Action Plan. These may include industry and bio-based companies, technology providers, innovators, regional authorities and other organisations interested in cooperation and knowledge exchange.

The actions will be implemented at local, regional, national, and European level through both online and in-person activities. Some activities have already taken place, including meetings in Brussels and Warsaw with European stakeholders, online exchanges, and a field visit to a regional research institute. At the same time, the WGPP and RootLinks remain open to cooperation with local stakeholders, clusters, associations, regional authorities, cross-border initiatives and more stakeholders.

The exact locations and formats of future activities will depend on the partnerships and collaborations that can be developed over time. As a result, the implementation process will remain open, flexible, and evolving.

Information about upcoming activities will be published on the RootLinks website.