CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-09 Balancing food security, bioeconomy, climate and biodiversity objectives while unlocking sustainable value chains

Our foundational expertise is participatory grassroots applied science engagement through bioregional organizing. KBC offers a strategic network of quadruple helix partners for circularity in the upper Oder River watershed, utilizing a holisitc landscape approach coupled with frameworks that balance food security, bioeconomy, climate, and biodiversity objectives by creating resilient value chains. We can facilitate building partnerships across EU watersheds to scale solutions.

KBC Role in the Consortium

KBC will be a highly active, engaged participant. Our specific contributions are:

• Pilot Sites: We are located in a mosaic landscape of small to large farms, grasslands, managed and natural forests, 2 national parks, several nature reserves, peatlands, and high touristic and biodiversity hotspots in southwest Poland on the border of Czech. We can activate and operationalize our network of local stakeholders for co-creating, testing and disseminating solutions.

• Transdisciplinary Leadership: We lead the SSH and participatory governance WPs, employing Theory U and facilitated regenerative organizational design to ensure integrated, robust problem-framing and enduring societal engagement. Integrated Landscape management (ILM) and 4 Returns training and integration across the consortium.

• Strategic Analysis: We contribute bioregional mapping, value chain impact and dependency analysis, and strategic input for ESG/compliance reporting and the strategic exploitation of research results (To Exploitation).

• Network Weaving: We lead efforts to identify, onboard, and integrate new BLLs and partners across Poland and EU watersheds, leveraging our extensive quadruple Helix network for multi-scalar mobilization with local government, SMEs, civil society and academic/research partners in the region for co-creation and demonstration of circular models (agroecology, regenerative ag, and local bioeconomy).

Partners we Are Looking For

We seek partners to complete our Quintuple Helix (includes nature), ensuring multi-scalar and transdisciplinary capacity aligned with the call's need for sustainable value chain development:

• Research & Academic Institutions (SSH/STEM): Experts committed to developing and testing theories around bioregional organizing and validating the frameworks we utilize (ILM, 4 Returns). Specific need for SSH-aligned researchers (e.g., behavioral scientists, ethnobotanists, historians) and STEM expertise in sustainable biomass utilization and value chain analysis.

• Business SMEs & Financial Innovation: EU partners for creating viable business models around blended finance, Bioregional Finance Facilities, and ecosystem service markets (carbon/biodiversity credits). We seek SMEs and industry partners engaged in bio-based product upcycling/recycling and the strategic exploitation of research results.

• Local/Regional Government Bodies: Expanding our network of authorities committed to planning and compliance, specifically for Bioregional Plans supporting Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR) and Soil Monitoring Law (SML) and integrating local communities into governance.

• Technology & Monitoring Organizations: Specialists who can provide effective monitoring and the development of indicators utilizing AI, GIS, and satellite technology for BLL implementation and measuring circularity/GHG reductions.

• Farmer Networks & Specialized NGOs: Engaged EU wide farmer networks and cooperatives for landscape-level adoption and specialized NGOs (e.g., watershed and hydrology management, cultural heritage, or youth engagement) to ensure broad societal and ecological representation.

Type of Cooperation Sought: Partner