MarginUp! Presented at EUBCE 2026
The MarginUp! project was presented at the 33rd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition (EUBCE 2026), one of the leading international events dedicated to biomass, bioenergy, and the bioeconomy. The conference brought together more than 1,400 participants from 63 countries, alongside 75 exhibitors and sponsors, fostering dialogue between researchers, industry representatives, policymakers, and other stakeholders from across the biomass value chain.
MarginUp! participated in the session “Integrated Agricultural Management Practices – A Contribution to Sustainability”, which explored innovative approaches to sustainable agriculture and biomass value chains. Jerónimo González Cortés from CICYTEX (Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas de Extremadura) presented the work being carried out within the Spanish MarginUp! Use Case. His presentation highlighted the project’s contribution to biodiversity, rural socio-economic development, and ecosystem services through the cultivation of non-food crops on marginal lands across Europe and two international pilot locations.
The project focuses on the sustainable use of marginal lands to produce bio-based products while improving environmental performance and supporting rural communities. In the Spanish Use Case, hemp and kenaf are cultivated on low-productivity land in Northern Extremadura. These crops are integrated into rotation systems with traditional maize cultivation to improve soil quality and enhance agricultural productivity. The biomass obtained from hemp and kenaf fibres is used to produce bio-based construction panels, as well as bioenergy products such as biogas and biofertilisers.
The results presented during the congress demonstrated that crop rotation between maize and hemp can increase yields compared to monoculture systems. In addition, soil carbon pools appeared to be more stable when crop rotation was implemented. The study also confirmed the feasibility of producing biogas and biofertilisers from hemp processing residues, particularly dust waste generated during the transformation process.
The session also featured presentations from researchers representing the University of Bologna, Wageningen University & Research, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, the University of Pretoria, and Banaras Hindu University, providing a diverse international perspective on sustainable agricultural management practices.
EUBCE is recognised as a key platform for addressing the balance between environmental sustainability and the economic performance of biomass value chains, while fostering collaboration between academia, research institutions, industry, and policymakers. Covering topics ranging from biomass resources and research to innovation, deployment, and policy development, the event provided an ideal setting for MarginUp! to share its latest findings and engage with stakeholders working towards a more sustainable and circular bioeconomy.
The MarginUp! consortium would like to thank everyone who attended the session and contributed to the discussion.
