MarginUp! Interactive Value Chain Development Workshop on the Greek use-case
On November 5, 2024 the Greek use-case of the EU-funded MarginUp! project hosted the 5th Interactive Value Chain Development Workshop. The workshop took place at the “Koventarios” Municipal Library in Kozani, Greece and gathered key stakeholders from the bioeconomy sector of Western Macedonia and beyond to explore the potential of marginal lands for the production of sustainable bio-based industrial feedstock. The workshop welcomed researchers, regional policymakers, business leaders, and bioeconomy advocates to discuss the use of pseudoacacia trees and lavender grown on former lignite mining sites as biomass sources and their contributions to regional development. For more than 5 hours attendees engaged in dynamic discussions, followed by informal networking.
The workshop was facilitated by MarginUp!’s partners’ representatives, including Konstantin Engelbrecht from the inter 3 Institute for Resource Management and Johanna Reger from ZALF, who led SWOT and TOWS analyses, as well as strategic roadmapping and policy recommendations. Together with Dora Kalea and her colleagues from the Cluster of Bioeconomy and Environment of Western Macedonia (CluBE) they moderated the group work and guided participants through the day. CluBE presented the Greek use-case, gave project insights and, along with other Greek partners from the University of Thessaly, DIADYMA, and Alfa Wood Group company, contributed to sessions that fostered collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Participants worked through a series of interactive sessions, identifying and discussing strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) within the Greek use-case. Strategic options were developed using the TOWS method, allowing groups to build on identified factors to drive positive outcomes for the region’s bio-based economy. Later, attendees outlined a roadmap for scaling up production, focusing on key milestones, network development, and capacity-building needs. They also contributed valuable policy recommendations aimed at strengthening the bioeconomy landscape in Western Macedonia.
The workshop was a great success, bringing together numerous regional stakeholders. The collaborative atmosphere fostered connections across sectors and highlighted the importance of visionary but strategic regional partnerships for unlocking the potential of marginal lands using bio-based resources. In an area deeply impacted by long omnipresent open-cast lignite mining and electric power generation, with its advantages and its long-lasting consequences, this could contribute to both environmental sustainability and economic diversification in the region.
