The MarginUp! project places a strong emphasis on stakeholder participation as a central element of its approach. Over the past six months, a series of workshops have taken place in various use cases that explore sustainable practices on marginal lands. These workshops aim to engage diverse stakeholders and to further develop the innovative bio-based value chains, ultimately promoting ecological benefits, economic growth, and rural development.
To foster collaboration and sustainable participation among these stakeholders, MarginUp! partners inter 3, ATB Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy and the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) have organized a series of Interactive Value Chain Development Workshops. These workshops engage stakeholders from various sectors, including business, nature conservation, science, agriculture, administration, and civil society, in order jointly analyze problems, come up with solutions and develop strategies for future up-scaling.
Workshop Highlights
In March 2024, stakeholders in Stellenbosch, South Africa, focused on the industrial utilization of biomass from invasive alien tree species. Discussions included nature conservation and sustainable agriculture, with international experts sharing insights on sustainable bio-based value chains. Participants proposed a dual approach to managing these invasive species: implementing strict conservation measures at specific sites while economically utilizing the trees in other areas.
In Extremadura, Spain, a workshop in April brought together 22 participants to explore the cultivation of kenaf and hemp on marginal lands. The use case aims at producing organic fibers for the construction industry, and the group developed a detailed action plan. Results will also support future policy recommendations.
In southern Hungary, a May workshop engaged 50 participants in discussions about using willow and Sida hermaphrodita for biomass production on poor soils. The focus was on integrating biomass production with mushroom cultivation and animal feed and biogas production. Participants discussed strategies to overcome obstacles and foster climate-proof agricultural practices.
August 2024 saw a workshop in northern Sweden, centered on biodiesel production from turnip rape. Local stakeholders visited trial fields and processing facilities, discussing results and challenges and formulating an action plan to promote regional use of biodiesel.
Upcoming Workshops
In November 2024, participants will explore the use of former opencast lignite mining areas for bio-feedstock production and subsequent value chains in northern Greece. Following this, the focus will shift to reed biomass utilization for horticulture in Brandenburg, Germany. The final workshop will be a hybrid event in Argentina, addressing the production of bio-products in the flooding pampa.
This series of workshops, part of the MarginUp! project, aims to co-define concrete steps towards realizing a sustainable bioeconomy in Europe and beyond, demonstrating the power of collaborative efforts to shape the future of agricultural practices and resource management.
