Techonological Corporation of Andalusia (CTA) organised the SYMBIO Focus Group on forest waste valorisation at its headquarters in Seville as part of the Circular Bioeconomy Summit, held from 10 to 12 June.
The summit, organised by the Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development of the Andalusian Regional Government in collaboration with CTA, brought together public authorities, companies, research organisations and European stakeholders to position Andalusia and Southern Europe as key players in the transition towards a more sustainable and competitive circular bioeconomy.
Within this framework, stakeholders explored how forest residues can be transformed into polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), a family of bioplastics that offers a sustainable, bio-based alternative to conventional fossil-based plastics.
Turning Forest Waste into Bio-Based Materials
The session brought together representatives from the quadruple helix industry, public administration, academia and civil society in a participatory co-creation process. Building on the results and knowledge generated by previous projects, participants analysed the feasibility of this emerging value chain in Andalusia, identified potential barriers and opportunities for its deployment, and discussed priority actions to accelerate the adoption of innovative circular solutions in the region.
The event also benefited from the participation of several SYMBIO partners, including Alchemia Nova, Cardiff Metropolitan University and PDR – International Design and Research Centre, whose expertise contributed to enriching the discussions and identifying pathways towards more sustainable bio-based materials.
Representing CTA were Carmen Ronchel, Carla del Cerro, María Alonso, Juanita Centeno, Alberto Barraca and Marta Macías. They were joined by Max Läuger, Mouna Laouini and Katie Beverley, who actively contributed to the exchange of knowledge and perspectives throughout the workshop.
Building New Opportunities for Regional Innovation
By organising initiatives such as the SYMBIO Focus Group, CTA continues to foster collaboration among key innovation stakeholders and promote the development of sustainable value chains that contribute to the ecological transition, regional competitiveness and the advancement of the circular bioeconomy in Andalusia.
About SYMBIO
SYMBIO is a European project that supports the transition towards circular and sustainable value chains by promoting stakeholder collaboration, knowledge exchange and the identification of innovative business opportunities based on regional resources. Through participatory methodologies and multi-actor engagement, the project aims to accelerate the adoption of circular bioeconomy solutions across Europe.
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