• The MAPA organizes "Innovative Wednesdays," a series of workshops between Operational Groups and Innovative Projects on various topics of interest.
• During the meeting, participants were able to exchange knowledge and experiences in the valorization of byproducts and establish synergies among themselves.

During the meeting, with 218 registered participants , the innovation measures of the European Innovation Partnership for Productive and Sustainable Agriculture (AEI-Agri) were presented within the framework of the rural development programming and Horizon 2020. On the other hand, the bioeconomy was contextualized, to give an overview of its situation in Spain, the strategic framework and the existing funds to support the development of the bioeconomy. Margarita de Gregorio, a member of BIOPLAT (Spanish Biomass Platform), also spoke, highlighting Spain's high potential in the use of biomass and the main opportunities and benefits it offers.

Participants

Five regional and supra-regional Operational Groups and a transnational Horizon 2020 project were presented at the experience exchange. Participants shared initiatives, results, progress, and experiences in the field, with two sessions for discussion and open debate.

• BIORESCUE (Horizon 2020 Project): Novel biorefinery concept for mushroom compost.
• GO AGUACAVALUE (from the National Rural Development Program): Valorization of avocado by-products.
• GO INNOEXTRACT (from the National Rural Development Program): Valorization of agro-food waste .
• GO OLEOVALORIZA (from the PDR Andalusia): Comprehensive recovery of waste for a sustainable olive sector .
• GO PROTEIN VALUATION (from the Catalonia PDR): Valorization of low commercial value proteins from by-products and co-products of pig slaughterhouses.
• GO VALORALES (from the Extremadura PDR): Influence of compost from agro-industrial waste and compost tea on industrial tomato cultivation.

At the closing ceremony, the main conclusions drawn from each project were presented. The importance of having an innovative foundation that proposes solutions that allow us to address existing problems, the need to establish synergies between different initiatives, and, ultimately, the potential of the bioeconomy in Spain as a resource that provides significant socioeconomic and environmental added value, were also highlighted.

What is innovation?

Innovation is an essential tool for achieving a sustainable and competitive agricultural and forestry sector within Europe. In the area of agriculture and rural areas, in accordance with the Europe 2020 Strategy and the general objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy, innovation is considered an essential cross-cutting priority for achieving the objectives of European rural policy.

All the information about this event can be found on the National Rural Network website.

The next event will take place on May 5 and will focus on social innovation (full information and the registration link will be available soon on the National Rural Network website).