AGRI-BIOCIRCULAR-HUB
AGRI-BIOCIRCULAR-HUB is a Horizon Europe initiative that aims to establish a network of excellence hubs in smart agriculture and circular bioeconomy across Poland, Latvia, Ukraine, Belgium, and Spain. By linking academia, industry, public institutions, and citizens, the project fosters innovation, builds capacity, and enables sustainable transformation in the agrifood sector, with a strong focus on widening countries and emerging ecosystems.
Next Program Starts on November 4, 2025!
CIRCULAR BIOECONOMY.
UNITED EUROPE.
SMART AGRICULTULAR.
The AGRI-BIOCIRCULAR-HUB Project Connects Research, Business, And Policy In 5 Countries To Drive Innovation In Sustainable Agriculture And The Bioeconomy.
We Aim To Empower Emerging Ecosystems Through Pilot Projects, Capacity Building, Mentoring, And Cross-Border Cooperation, Ensuring Food Systems Are Smart, Circular, And Future-Ready.
Funded By The European Union Under Horizon Europe (Grant Agreement No. 101186869)
CONSOTRIUM PARTNERS
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
The AGRI-BIOCIRCULAR-HUB project aims to achieve several strategic objectives of creating sustainable and innovative solutions for the agricultural sector. The primary aim is to foster a circular bioeconomy by integrating advanced technologies, promoting research, and promoting cooperation between regions and countries. These goals encompass scientific research activities, support for entrepreneurship, knowledge transfer, best practices, and promoting new business models focused on sustainable development and environmental standards. Implementing these objectives will not only enhance agricultural production efficiency but also ensure the preservation of natural resources and biodiversity for future generations.
OBJECTIVE 1
Promoting cross-border and interregional research collaboration:
Developing and implementing a long-term action plan for research and innovation in sustainable and circular agriculture.
OBJECTIVE 2
Enhancing the research capacity of participating countries:
Creation and scaling of innovative business cases focused on regional challenges and supporting local innovative small and medium-sized enterprises.
OBJECTIVE 3
Promoting cross-border and interregional research collaboration:
Conducting training, learning, and networking events for disseminating innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as providing specialized mentoring support for new ecosystems, particularly in Ukraine.
OBJECTIVE 4
Promoting cross-border and interregional research collaboration:
Implementation of an open innovation and entrepreneurial mentoring program.
OBJECTIVE 5
Promoting cross-border and interregional research collaboration:
Developing a financing mechanism to support SMEs involved in developing and implementing smart and circular technologies and innovations for sustainable agriculture.
ECOSYSTEMS OF THE PROJECT
ECOSYSTEM # 1 – POLAND
The Polish ecosystem brings together leading academic institutions, innovative companies, and public organizations focused on sustainable agriculture and circular bioeconomy. The consortium is led by the Poznań University of Life Sciences (PULS), which hosts Poland’s largest composting and biogas laboratory, and Czestochowa University of Technology (PCz), a key player in biowaste valorization and ecosystem development.
Industry partners include Rowaj, Chrobry, and GRANULAT-BIS, working on organic waste processing, sustainable packaging, and plastic recycling. Public actors such as the Agricultural Advisory Centre (AAC) and the Wielkopolska Chamber of Agriculture (WIR) contribute by connecting with farmers, supporting innovation uptake, and facilitating policy dialogue across the region.
ECOSYSTEM # 2 – LATVIA
The Latvian ecosystem is built around collaboration between leading research, business, and public sector actors focused on sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and deep-tech innovation. The Agroresursi un Economics Institute (AREI) leads regional mapping and coordinates the Latvian pilot project (Pilot No. 3), supported by Egg Energy – a poultry-based biogas plant – and the deep-tech accelerator Commercialization Reactor.
Public institutions like the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA), the Latvian Biogas Association, and the Farmers’ Parliament (ZSA) ensure long-term impact through innovation policy, capacity building, and farmer engagement. The ecosystem focuses on biowaste valorization, circular economy, and smart specialization strategies (S3).
ECOSYSTEM # 3 – UKRAINE
The Ukrainian ecosystem is coordinated by Lviv Polytechnic National University (LPNU), one of Eastern Europe’s oldest technical universities, leading the national pilot project (Pilot No. 4) and key work packages on mentoring and communication. The ecosystem focuses on sustainable waste management, circular bioeconomy, and regional innovation strategy development.
Key partners include the municipal enterprise “Green City” (waste valorization), the Lviv Regional State Administration (environmental governance), and the All-Ukrainian Environmental League (civil society engagement). Together, they promote bio-based innovations, capacity building, and long-term ecosystem growth across Ukraine.
PROJECT IMPACT
The AGRI-BIOCIRCULAR-HUB project is highly significant for the sustainable development of the agricultural sector and bioeconomy, as it focuses on supporting green transformations in three countries: Ukraine, Poland, and Latvia. This project will bring long-term positive impacts on the economy, the environment, and society by implementing innovative technologies, developing ecosystems for small and medium-sized enterprises, and strengthening cooperation among research institutions, businesses, and public organizations. The impact will be observed at several levels: economic, environmental, social, and innovative.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
The AGRI-BIOCIRCULAR-HUB project has a significant economic impact on the participating regions by stimulating the development of new businesses, creating jobs, and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The project will enhance the competitiveness of regional businesses by developing innovative technologies in agriculture and bioeconomy, including the transfer of knowledge and best practices. Additionally, the project will create new opportunities for agribusinesses by utilizing circular and sustainable technologies, reducing production costs, and increasing efficiency.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The project promotes ecological transformation in agricultural practices by advocating for sustainable development and circular bioeconomy. The implementation of innovative technologies will reduce the negative environmental impact, particularly by lowering the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, improving waste management, and supporting biodiversity conservation. A key element is also the support for renewable energy sources, such as biogas and bioenergy, which will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to the overall reduction of carbon footprints.
SOCIAL IMPACT
One of the main aspects of the project’s impact is its social influence, which will improve the quality of life in rural and agricultural regions. The project provides opportunities for local communities to acquire new skills and knowledge, helping to increase professional qualifications, expand access to new job opportunities, and create conditions for the development of social enterprises. Active community participation through training, consultations, and education will strengthen social cohesion, raise ecological awareness, and ensure a more sustainable economic future.
INNOVATIVE IMPACT
The project will facilitate the introduction of the latest technologies and practices in agriculture and bioeconomy, with great potential to foster the growth of innovative businesses. Supporting startups and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through mentoring programs and access to financing will enable the implementation of innovative solutions in the agribusiness sector. The successful use of new approaches to crop cultivation, waste management, and energy conservation will serve as a model for other regions and can become the foundation for further agricultural innovations in Europe.
PROJECT DETAILS
Project TITLE: Excellence Hub for a Smart Agriculture and Circular Bioeconomy Towards a Sustainable Agrifood Sector in Widening Countries (and Beyond)
Project Acronym: AGRI-BIOCIRCULAR-HUB
Action Type: HORIZON 4.1 – Widening participation and spreading excellence
Topic: HORIZON-WIDERA-2023-ACCESS-07-01 – Excellence Hubs
Coordinator: Lviv Polytechnic National University (Ukraine)
Project Start date: 1 January 2025
Project End date: 31 December 2028
Duration: 48 months
Project Budget: €5,995,825.00