PRIMED is a European project that aims to redesign the primary sector to maximise bioeconomy development through the creation, validation and scaling of circular and regenerative bio-based value chains.

It brings together actors from across Europe to turn underused biomass, residues and side streams from agriculture, fisheries, forestry and agri-food systems into higher-value products, while ensuring that primary producers play a stronger and fairer role in these emerging value chains.

PRIMED is structured around five Living Labs in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Ireland and Finland, where regional stakeholders co-create and test solutions adapted to local resources, needs and market opportunities.

By bridging research, innovation and practical application, PRIMED supports more sustainable rural development, waste valorisation, better cross-sector cooperation and the uptake of innovative bio-based solutions. The project also strengthens the connection between primary producers, industry, researchers, public authorities and end-users, helping accelerate the transition towards an inclusive, resilient and scalable circular bioeconomy in Europe.

The project has delivered two main outputs: 

• it has mapped the main biomass feedstocks and conversion technologies across the five labs. This describes how different types of secondary biomass are selected and processed to generate bio-based products.
• It has mapped the bio-based value chains developed in the labs.

It will produce a digital toolbox, an open-access environment designed to help stakeholders explore resources, technologies, products, value chains, business models and success cases, and to support collaboration and replication.