After three years of work across 14 countries, the European multi-actor project BioRural has come to an end, leaving behind a strong legacy for rural circular bioeconomy in Europe.
Growing a European Rural Bioeconomy Network (ERBN)
From the very beginning, BioRural set out to promote small-scale bio-based solutions that can make rural areas more sustainable, resilient, and innovative. To achieve this, the project worked with a wide range of key actors: farmers, foresters, companies, researchers, policy makers, and rural communities.
The numbers show the scale of this effort:
- 1,212 key actors identified, with more than 940 directly contacted.
- 441 actors participated in BioRural actions such as workshops, surveys, and events.
- 305 of them actively collaborated, co-organising activities and sharing best practices.
- 616 key actors and stakeholders joined the community of the European Rural Bioeconomy Network (ERBN): far beyond the project’s original goal of 400 members.
Thanks to this engagement, ERBN has become a vibrant community where rural actors can exchange knowledge, discover new opportunities, and work together on bio-based innovations.
Connecting with European Projects and Networks
BioRural also played an important role at the European level. The project was part of the Rural Bioeconomy Alliance (RBA), which now includes 19 EU-funded projects working on bioeconomy solutions for rural areas. Through this alliance, BioRural created over 50 synergies, from joint workshops to shared dissemination activities.
In addition, BioRural collaborated with major EU initiatives such as EU-Farmbook, modernAKIS and Tools4CAP, ensuring that project results will remain available and connected to long-term European platforms. Links were also established with CAP Networks, national bioeconomy networks, and thematic organisations such as Bioenergy Europe, ICA, ERIAFF and the European Rural Development Network.
Beyond BioRural: thERBN takes the lead
Although the BioRural project has finished, BioRural legacy will stay active through a new project: thERBN, thematic European Rural Bioeconomy Network.
Launched in January 2025 and led by Ghent University together with several BioRural partners, thERBN will formally structure the ERBN community as a European thematic network. Its mission is to become a hub with farmers, foresters, and advisors, for sharing solutions in rural circular bioeconomy, and linked to the national AKIS systems for knowledge transfer to primary sector.
thERBN will connect ERBN with EU-CAP networks, EU-Farmbook, and other European knowledge platforms, ensuring that the legacy of BioRural grows into a long-lasting structure that supports rural communities all over Europe.
A Lasting Legacy
BioRural’s journey shows the power of collaboration. By bringing together hundreds of actors, projects, and networks, it has helped to make circular bioeconomy a practical reality for rural areas. Now, thanks to thERBN, the community that BioRural created will continue to expand, share knowledge, and deliver innovative solutions for Europe’s rural future.