FOCUS STC at the 4th BBioNets Plenary in Seville, Spain
On 3–4 February 2026, the BBioNets consortium travelled to the historic city of Seville, Spain, for its 4th Plenary Meeting. As the project enters its final phase – with a conclusion set for October 2026 – the atmosphere was one of high energy and focused determination.
For FOCUS STC, this meeting was a vital opportunity to reconnect with our European partners and ensure that the results of our work deliver a meaningful, lasting legacy. Hosted by our Spanish partners, Corporación Tecnológica de Andalucía (CTA) and Tepro Consultores Agrícolas (TEPRO), the gathering provided an inspiring backdrop to review the progress of the regional Forest and Agriculture Networks (FANs) and finalise key project deliverables.
Contributing to the Strategy, Synergies, and Impact
As the partner facilitating Cross-Fertilisation among the FANs and leading Dissemination and Communication (D&C), our role in Seville was to help coordinate the project’s collective voice. We also focused on the bridges built with the wider European research community, a task that feels increasingly vital as we enter the final months of the project. Rather than working in isolation, our goal has been all along to break down the “silos” that often exist between research initiatives, ensuring that what we learn in BBioNets benefits the entire bioeconomy landscape.
A large part of our discussions involved maximising our outreach efforts to make sure results are truly accessible and practical for the farmers and foresters who need them. We also spent time focusing on the ongoing Cross-Fertilisation meetings, which are an effective way to move knowledge between different European regions so that a good idea in one country can be adapted and used in another.
Much of our work is also outward-facing, particularly through our Standing Liaison Round Table (SLRT) initiative. We updated the partners on how this framework continues to help us connect with related EU projects to build a more unified knowledge base. This collaborative spirit is perhaps best seen in the planning for an EU Policy Event in Brussels this May. We are helping to organise this major milestone alongside six other projects, using our synergy framework to ensure that our combined research is translated into meaningful policy recommendations at the European level.
Theory in Action: The Copero Environmental Complex
A highlight for our team was the technical visit to the Copero Environmental Complex of EMASESA. Despite the heavy rain (reminiscent of our previous meeting in Thessaloniki!), the visit offered a fascinating look at biological treatment processes and energy recovery. Witnessing the final stages of composting and the reintegration of organic waste into the agricultural sector provided a practical, real-world example of the very objectives we work towards in BBioNets.
Looking Ahead
As we head towards the final months of the project, FOCUS STC remains energised by the collaborative spirit of the consortium. We look forward to the upcoming event in Brussels and to finalising the tools and results that will support sustainable agricultural practices across Europe.
Stay tuned for more updates as we approach the BBioNets final milestone!
