The Regional Government of Andalusia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development hosted the Circular Bioeconomy Forum in Seville (Spain) on 21 November. This event was an international meeting point for the exchange of experiences that brought together more than 350 participants in person and online!
In collaboration with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) in Seville and the Andalusian Institute for Agricultural, Fisheries, Food, and Organic Production Research and Training (IFAPA, ROBIN’s partner), the Forum provided a platform for stakeholders in the quadruple helix to share insights on circular bioeconomy. Discussions covered policies, strategies, governance, and successful business stories.
During the inauguration, Manuel Gómez, the Secretary General of Agriculture, emphasised the Andalusian government’s commitment to promoting the bioeconomy in the region, noting, “Andalusia was the first region in the EU to adopt an exclusive strategy for the bioeconomy.” The Regional Ministry of Agriculture also revealed that Andalusia had been selected by the European Commission to participate in the Bioeconomy Changemakers Festival 2024, scheduled for the week of 11-17 March 2024! The Festival will feature a diverse range of activities aimed at raising awareness of the circular bioeconomy,with a particular focus on engaging young people in Andalusia.
As for ROBIN’s involvement in the event, the Robin project team had a strong presence throughout the forum with the Andalusian node and members of the Andalusian Multi-Actor Regional Constellation (MARC) actively participating. Representatives of IFAPA and CTA participated in discussions, all highlighting the key role of ROBIN in the European bioeconomy development. Key themes that came up during the Circular Bioeconomy Forum included awareness raising, training, cooperation, innovation, and commitment.
*Many thanks to our partners in the Regional Government of Andalusia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development for providing us with insights for the event and the pictures.
