As part of the ORIENTATE project, funded by the Interreg NEXT MED Programme, Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University (KSU) hosted the Local Stakeholder Workshop of the Türkiye Pilot on 4 June 2026. The event brought together representatives from academia, public institutions, local authorities, businesses, cooperatives and civil society organizations to explore opportunities for advancing circular bioeconomy practices in the Kahramanmaraş region.
Held in a hybrid format at the KSU Rectorate Conference Hall, the workshop gathered 32 participants from 14 different organizations. The event served as an important platform for dialogue and knowledge exchange, supporting ORIENTATE’s mission to transform agricultural waste and organic by-products into valuable economic, environmental and social resources across the Mediterranean region.
Through five thematic working groups, participants examined the region’s most significant biomass streams and organic residues, including sugar beet pulp and molasses, red pepper processing residues, corn biomass, olive pomace, animal manure, textile waste, fruit and vegetable residues, municipal green waste and food-processing by-products. Discussions highlighted that many of these resources remain underutilized or are currently used in low-value applications, despite their considerable potential.
Participants identified several promising circular value chains, including the production of compost and organic fertilizers, biogas, alternative animal feed, bio-based materials, bioplastics, pellet fuels and other high-value bio-based products. Composting and organic fertilizers were recognized as the most readily applicable short-term solutions, while biogas and feed production emerged as medium-term opportunities. Innovative bio-based materials and integrated digital solutions were highlighted as strategic long-term development pathways.
One of the key messages emerging from the workshop was that the transition towards a circular bioeconomy requires a comprehensive approach that goes beyond technology adoption. Stakeholders emphasized the need for improved data collection, biomass inventories, stronger technical capacities, better access to funding opportunities and enhanced cooperation among local actors.
Capacity building was identified as a major priority. Participants stressed the importance of developing practical training programmes for farmers, cooperatives, SMEs, public institutions, students and civil society organizations. Recommended topics included organic waste management, composting and biogas technologies, circular business models, biomass valorisation and access to funding mechanisms.
Digitalisation also emerged as a crucial enabler of circular bioeconomy development. Participants recommended establishing digital databases, resource mapping tools, mobile applications and AI-supported decision-making systems to improve the monitoring, collection and valorisation of biomass resources throughout the region.
Among the priority actions identified were the development of a regional biomass and agricultural waste inventory, the implementation of pilot projects on composting and biogas production, the creation of a digital waste and resource monitoring platform, and the establishment of a permanent multi-stakeholder cooperation network involving universities, public authorities, businesses and civil society organizations.
The workshop confirmed the strong potential of Kahramanmaraş to become a regional hub for circular bioeconomy innovation. It also reinforced KSU’s strategic role as a facilitator of knowledge generation, stakeholder engagement and pilot implementation within the ORIENTATE project.
The outcomes of the workshop will contribute to shaping the next phases of the ORIENTATE Türkiye Pilot, supporting the transformation of agricultural and industrial by-products into sustainable development opportunities while strengthening regional resilience and promoting the transition towards a greener and more circular Mediterranean economy.
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