The 2nd Circular Bioeconomy Forum, organised by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development of the Regional Government of Andalusia in collaboration with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) in Seville, the Andalusian Institute for Agricultural Research and Training (IFAPA), CTA and the Andalusian Circular Bioeconomy Cluster, brought together more than 150 experts at Seville TechPark to promote European cooperation in the sector.

Regional, national and international representatives from the circular bioeconomy gathered at the forum, which has become one of the sector’s leading events and further highlights Andalusia’s role as a key region for the development of the circular bioeconomy in Europe, thanks to its agri-food production capacity, abundant biomass resources and dynamic innovation ecosystem.

The Secretary-General for Agriculture, Livestock and Food at the Regional Government of Andalusia, Manuel Gómez, emphasised that “the circular bioeconomy is no longer a vision for the future but a real and present opportunity”, and stated that it is essential “to position Andalusia and Southern Europe as leading regions in the circular bioeconomy”. In his view, “Andalusia is particularly well placed to lead this transition because it is a leader in agricultural production, has an innovative business sector and a clear institutional commitment to promoting a more sustainable production model”. “We must turn environmental challenges into opportunities for growth and employment,” he added.

Carlos Torrecilla, Deputy Director of the Directorate for a Sustainable and Fair Economy at the European Union’s JRC, noted that “the JRC’s presence in Seville, where it has been based for over 30 years, is a key link between science and European policymaking and a major asset for shaping European policies”. He highlighted the imminent opening of a new JRC site in Seville at the end of 2027, which will be the first public building under the New European Bauhaus initiative and will be capable of generating more energy than it consumes. He also underlined the significance of the 2nd Circular Bioeconomy Forum and recalled the European Commission’s commitment to working closely with the Regional Government of Andalusia.

The president of CTA, Beltrán Pérez, stated that “it is not just a question of making better use of biological resources, but of changing the model – moving from a linear to a circular economy, turning waste into resources, creating new value chains and employment opportunities, while doing so in a way that builds on Andalusia’s productive strengths and development potential”. He pointed out that CTA has been working to promote the circular bioeconomy for over a decade and has participated in numerous European projects related to this topic, and offered the foundation’s support to the organisations present to continue advancing this model.

This Forum is the flagship event of the 1st Circular Bioeconomy Summit, which took place from 10 to 12 June in Seville, at the headquarters of the EOI School of Industrial Organisation in Seville TechPark, and brought together more than 300 national and international experts through a programme of events dedicated to the circular bioeconomy.

Alessandra Zampieri, Director of Sustainable Resources at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) in ISPRA, delivered a keynote speech on “Progress and prospects for the bioeconomy: the European Bioeconomy Strategy”, while Hugo Chavarría, Manager of the Hemispheric Programme for Innovation and Bioeconomy at the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, analysed the role of the bioeconomy in global geopolitics as a strategic response to the current context.

The CEO of Biocirc/Bioplat, Margarita de Gregorio, moderated a round-table discussion on “Public Administrations and the New Challenges of the Circular Bioeconomy”, with participants including representatives from the Regional Ministries of Agriculture and Sustainability of the Regional Government of Andalusia, the Agricultural Technology Institute of Castile and León (Itacyl) and the Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development (Neiker).

CTA’s Director of International Affairs, David Páez, chaired another round-table discussion on public-private partnerships as a successful model for the development of the bioeconomy, attended by representatives from the La Caña business group, Biohubcat and Hub Asturcirc.

Mar Cátedra, Technical Adviser to the General Secretariat for Agriculture, Livestock and Food, moderated a round-table discussion entitled “Building the Bioeconomy: Expert Voices, Business Models and Social Perception”, in which representatives from UCAUCE, Emasesa, Covap, Carboliva and Trichodex (Fertiberia Group) took part.

In addition, Carmen García, Training and Knowledge Transfer Coordinator at IFAPA La Mojonera, led a panel discussion on R&D&I in the bioeconomy sector, with the participation of representatives from CEIA3, the European Commission’s JRC in Seville, the Tecnova Technology Centre and the Cajamar Foundation.

Following the presentation of the event’s conclusions by Mar Cátedra, Marta Bosquet, President of the Andalusian Institute for Research and Training in Agriculture, Fisheries and Organic Production, brought the meeting to a close. The event has established itself as a key forum for the circular bioeconomy in Spain and Europe.