Building sustainable bio-based value chains requires more than technological innovation — it also depends on meaningful collaboration with the people and sectors involved.
At RUNFASTER4EU, Ana Aleixo from PNO Innovation Portugal contributes to stakeholder engagement activities, helping connect the project with actors across the value chain, from farmers and industry representatives to policymakers and local communities.
“My role, together with my team, is to make sure that stakeholder engagement is not just a formal requirement, but something meaningful and useful for the project,” Ana explains. “It is really about building bridges, creating dialogue, and ensuring that the solutions we develop are relevant, accepted, and can realistically be taken up beyond the project.”
One of the first major activities was the organisation of the project’s first stakeholder engagement workshop in December 2025. The session introduced the project and opened discussions around feedstock and field activities, while also collecting feedback from different stakeholder groups.
“The exchange was very useful, as it gave us early insights on practical aspects such as crop feasibility, potential barriers, regulatory issues, and what would motivate stakeholders to be involved,” Ana says.
According to her, one of the key challenges in stakeholder engagement is balancing the different priorities, levels of technical understanding, and expectations across diverse groups.
“What is relevant for a farmer is not necessarily the same for an industrial partner or a policymaker,” she notes. “It requires continuous effort to keep communication clear, relevant, and adapted to each group, while still maintaining a coherent overall approach.”
Looking ahead, Ana sees stakeholder engagement as essential for ensuring the long-term impact of the project.
“By involving stakeholders throughout the project, they feel part of the process and more confident in adopting the solutions developed. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that the project has an impact beyond its duration and contributes to a more accepted and resilient bio-based sector.”