North Aegean Region
The North Aegean Region presents a distinct context for circular bioeconomy development. Its geography, made up of multiple islands, creates particular challenges linked to distance from the mainland, logistics costs, and the difficulty of building economies of scale. As a result, many existing circular bioeconomy initiatives remain small in scale, while the absence of a clear regulatory framework and a broader strategy at national and regional level makes it harder for initiatives to grow and connect.
Within this context, the RIBES Multi-actor Transformative Forum in the North Aegean has created a structured space for dialogue among researchers, regional actors, NGOs, and producers. Over time, the forum has moved from identifying broad barriers to discussing realistic actions, region-specific value chains, and the governance conditions needed for a more inclusive circular bioeconomy transition in the islands. Below, the North Aegean MTF reflects on the process so far, the main turning points, and the role the forum is beginning to play in the region.
1. In your view, what are the main bioeconomy-related challenges or needs in your region that the MTF is helping to address?
One of the biggest challenges in the North Aegean is the island character of the region. Distance from the mainland and logistics costs make it very difficult to develop viable circular bioeconomy solutions at scale, which means that most existing initiatives remain small. At the same time, there is a lack of a clear regulatory framework and strategy for circular bioeconomy development at both national and regional level, leaving many initiatives to rely on their own means. The MTF is helping address these gaps by opening a dialogue on these issues among different stakeholders.
2. Why is the work of the MTF important in your regional context?
The MTF is important because it creates a space for networking, learning, and collaboration in a region where circular bioeconomy actors are often dispersed and face common structural barriers. It enables stakeholders to exchange views, learn from each other, and discuss how circular bioeconomy opportunities could work in island contexts.
3. How does your MTF contribute to RIBES’ wider ambition of supporting inclusive and sustainable bio-based entrepreneurship?
The MTF contributes by connecting actors from different backgrounds, including academia, regional administration, NGOs, and emerging initiatives, and encouraging them to work around realistic and regionally relevant circular bioeconomy pathways. In this way, it helps support inclusive participation and creates a basis for more sustainable bio-based entrepreneurial initiatives in the North Aegean.
4. How has your MTF developed since the beginning of the project?
The MTF grew out of MedINA’s long-standing relationships in the region, particularly on Lemnos, where the organisation has been active since 2017. Over time, it brought together around 31 registered members from different sectors, including wool, olives, academia, administration, NGOs, and emerging initiatives. The group has remained fluid, with different levels of participation, but each actor has contributed through their own expertise and perspective.
5. Which stakeholder groups have been involved, and why has their participation been important?
The MTF has involved actors from academia, regional administration, NGOs, farmers, and emerging initiatives linked to sectors such as wool and olives. Their participation has been important because each group brings a different kind of knowledge. Academic participants contributed experience from previous projects and a broader vision for circular bioeconomy development, regional administration brought practical understanding of how producers work and cooperate, NGOs highlighted the interconnections between sectors and themes, and farmers brought forward their concrete needs and perspectives.
6. Have you seen any changes in stakeholder awareness, dialogue, or willingness to collaborate through the MTF process so far?
Yes. The discussion in the MTF has evolved over time from broad exchanges on challenges and barriers towards more specific considerations and proposals. This became especially visible in the latest MTF, where participants worked on shaping a vision and objectives for circular bioeconomy development in the region and brought forward more realistic action points.
7. What have been the most important discussions, insights, or turning points within your MTF so far?
An important turning point was the decision to focus on two specific value chains: olive tree prunings and wool waste. This helped shift the group from broad exploration to more focused action. It also highlighted that scale and cross-island relevance matter greatly in the North Aegean, and that selecting value chains common to almost all islands can maximise impact.
8. Have any specific barriers or enabling factors emerged regarding social entrepreneurship, circular bioeconomy development, or regional value-chain development?
Yes. One major barrier that emerged is the lack of a regional or national circular bioeconomy strategy, together with limited cooperation and coordination across actors. Another important challenge is the difficulty of funding existing initiatives, since there are no dedicated funding priorities at regional level and farmers, entrepreneurs, and NGOs are often unable to bear the costs of building the mechanisms needed for value chains to develop. At the same time, an important enabling factor is the recognition that decentralised solutions are not only preferable but necessary in island contexts, and that value chains need to reflect this reality.
9. What would you say are the most meaningful outcomes or lessons learned from your MTF up to this point?
One of the most meaningful outcomes has been the ability to bring together stakeholders from different sectors and help move the conversation towards practical and realistic solutions. A key lesson learned is that circular bioeconomy pathways in the North Aegean must be designed with island realities in mind, especially in terms of scale, logistics, and decentralised implementation.
10. Has the MTF helped identify opportunities for better governance, stronger cooperation, or better informed decision-making in your region?
Yes. The governance-focused third MTF was particularly important in highlighting the absence of a regional or national circular bioeconomy strategy. Through these discussions, the MTF has helped identify the need for stronger coordination, better cooperation, and more active engagement with competent authorities such as municipalities, especially for actions that require political will and formal institutional decisions.
11. Have you seen any signs that the MTF is helping create momentum for more inclusive, socially driven, or locally relevant bio-based solutions?
Yes. The MTF is building, for the first time, a structured cross-sector space in the North Aegean where researchers, administrators, NGOs, and local entrepreneurs can collectively identify what is blocking circular bioeconomy development and discuss realistic pathways to move forward. This in itself is a strong sign of momentum towards more locally relevant bio-based solutions.
12. Is there one example, moment, or exchange that best illustrates the value of your MTF?
A strong example came in the last MTF, when participants engaged in a very practical discussion on tree-pruning transportation and collection costs, as well as on farmer compensation. The fact that actors ranging from farmers to university professors were able to contribute to such a realistic exchange illustrates the role of the MTF in creating the conditions for solutions to mature.
13. If you had to explain in two or three sentences what difference your MTF is making in your region, what would you say?
The MTF is creating, for the first time, a structured cross-sector space in the North Aegean where different actors can collectively identify the barriers to circular bioeconomy development and discuss realistic pathways forward. It provides the ground for these conversations to flourish and for solutions to mature in a way that reflects the region’s island realities.
Looking ahead
The next steps include continued engagement within the Greek MTF, further discussion and validation of region-specific bio-based business models and transition pathways, and the organisation of the next MTF meeting. This next meeting is expected to focus on validating these business models as well as the regional governance toolkit for an inclusive circular bioeconomy transition developed by RIBES.