Cross-Regional Collaboration at the Irish Mutual Learning Workshop

May 6, 2025

Cross-Regional Collaboration at the Irish Mutual Learning Workshop

MainstreamBIO Project hosted its final Mutual Learning Workshop and Networking Event on April 9–10, 2025, in Cork, Ireland, marking a milestone in the project’s cross-regional knowledge exchange activities. This two-day event brought together 22 stakeholders from across Europe—representing Denmark, Poland, Greece, Sweden, the UK, and Ireland—to explore shared challenges and opportunities in rural bioeconomy development.

Organised by Munster Technological University (MTU) in collaboration with CircBio, Farm Zero C, and Teagasc Moorepark, the workshop aimed to spark dialogue around local biomass use, circular business models, and sustainable dairy farming.

Held at MTU Cork Campus, Day 1 began with presentations introducing various European bioeconomy initiatives, including MainstreamBIO, BioRural, N-POWER, and BRILIAN. These sessions laid the groundwork for an interactive workshop where participants discussed resource optimisation, waste valorisation, and innovation in farming and food systems. Case examples ranged from the use of straw in construction and bioethanol, to legume residues as biofertilizer, and the production of textiles from hemp and grass pulp.

Participants also discussed barriers to innovation, such as EU bureaucracy, misaligned policies, economic constraints, social resistance to change, and knowledge gaps. When asked what they would change in their local systems, participants proposed better advisory services, more localized processing, reduced red tape, and stronger cooperative models.

The group visited Farm Zero C, a climate-neutral dairy farming initiative led by Carbery Group and BiOrbic. Located in Bandon, the site showcases real-world applications of methane reduction, renewable energy integration, and sustainable soil and pasture management. The visit offered tangible insights into how small-scale bio-based practices can be embedded in traditional farming systems to reduce emissions and build resilience.

With a diverse mix of participants – from policy advisors to farmers and researchers – the event successfully grounded new connections and generated practical ideas for integrating circular bioeconomy solutions into rural development. As the final workshop in the Mutual Learning series, it capped off the knowledge-sharing component of MainstreamBIO with inspiration, energy, and actionable takeaways.

1Likes