Through a project poster exhibition and international networking activities, CIHEAM Bari highlights ROBOCOOP-EU's approach to agro-industrial by-product valorisation and circular bioeconomy innovation.
CIHEAM Bari participated in the Global Bioeconomy Summit 2026 (GBS2026), held in Dublin, Ireland, from 19 to 22 October, with the main Summit sessions taking place on 20–21 October at The Convention Centre Dublin.
Through a project poster exhibition, CIHEAM Bari presented the ROBOCOOP-EU project, highlighting its approach to the valorisation of agro-industrial by-products and exploring opportunities for knowledge exchange and collaboration within the international bioeconomy community.
Under the theme “Bioeconomy for socio-economic transformation and climate action,” GBS2026 brought together policymakers, researchers, industry representatives, investors and innovation stakeholders to discuss how biological resources, scientific advances and sustainable technologies can contribute to more resilient economies. The Summit addressed key challenges in advancing the bioeconomy, including sustainable biomass supply, investment, enabling policies and collaboration across sectors.
The ROBOCOOP-EU poster presented the project's approach to the valorisation of by-products from olive, grape and stone fruit value chains, exploring their potential for innovative and sustainable applications. The project investigates how technological valorisation pathways can be linked to environmental assessment, economic feasibility and the development of cooperative business models, with the aim of identifying circular bioeconomy opportunities for agricultural cooperatives.
This integrated approach brings together expertise in biomass characterisation, process development, product applications, sustainability assessment and business innovation. It also promotes stakeholder participation through regional Living Labs, connecting emerging technological opportunities with the needs and expectations of agricultural cooperatives and local stakeholders. By presenting ROBOCOOP-EU at GBS2026, CIHEAM Bari highlighted the potential role of agro-cooperatives in the transition towards more resource-efficient and circular agri-food systems.
Participation in GBS2026 formed part of ROBOCOOP-EU's communication, dissemination and exploitation efforts following the project's relaunch in June 2026. Beyond increasing the project's international visibility, the event offered opportunities to exchange knowledge and explore potential synergies with organisations working on sustainable biomass valorisation, bio-based innovation, regional development and circular business models.
The themes addressed at the Summit also reflected key aspects of ROBOCOOP-EU's approach: transforming agro-industrial by-products into sustainable opportunities requires not only technological innovation but also environmental and economic assessment, suitable business models and active stakeholder involvement. For Mediterranean agricultural cooperatives, the valorisation of existing agro-industrial resources could help diversify economic opportunities, strengthen regional value chains and support more sustainable resource management.
CIHEAM Bari's participation in GBS2026 contributed to the international visibility of ROBOCOOP-EU, highlighting the importance of connecting research, industry and agricultural cooperatives to advance circular bioeconomy solutions.
ROBOCOOP-EU is a European research and innovation project focused on developing circular bioeconomy opportunities and cooperative business models through the valorisation of agro-industrial by-products.
Project website: https://robocoop-project.eu/
Grant Agreement: 101112407
Programme: Horizon Europe – Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU)
Further information: https://gbs2026.org/
