Network Center for Renewable Resources in the Federal State of Brandenburg

The Federal State of Brandenburg has a high proportion of rural areas in which agriculture and forestry are formative. In addition to securing food supply, there are many options for the production of renewable raw materials. These include for example fibre plants or wool for building and insulating materials, plant starch for the production of bioplastics, packaging and foils, or essential oils for cosmetic products.

Materials from landscape maintenance, residues or by-products from the processing of harvested goods can also be used as a basis for new products such as fibreboards made from sawdust, insulating materials made from bark or biofuels made from fatty waste and used cooking oil. The range is immense − from timber from the forest to microalgae preparations from bioreactors.

The establishment of such value chains based on biomass is a primary goal of the Brandenburg state government in order to promote a sustainable economy and bioeconomy with domestic resources. There is a lot of “hidden” potential, but in order to make better use of it, stronger networking of relevant actors in agriculture and forestry, the processing industry, trade, science and politics is essential. “From the idea to the product”: An approach is required that includes all links in a value chain. With this aim, the Research Institute for Post-Mining Landscapes (FIB e.V.) is setting up a “Network Center for Renewable Resources”, financed by the Ministry for Agriculture, Environment and Climate Protection of the Federal State of Brandenburg.

Our network activities focus on:

• the transfer of knowledge through information events, workshops, public relations work for the purpose of raising awareness of various social and professional target groups, also in digital media,
• the identification of good practical examples and promising project ideas and demo projects – lighthouse projects,
• the support of innovative business models, through advice on opportunities and barriers, commissioning of feasibility studies, technical support from project acquisition to practical implementation or marketability,
• the establishment of an online platform for partner search, promotion of exchange of experiences, information about current events and news.

Sustainable management by replacing fossil or mineral raw materials with renewable and regional resources is also a future-proof contribution to climate protection, a “catalyst” for economic and regional development, a building block for security of supply and independence.

A variety of domestic, natural and bio-based resources are available in the Federal State of Brandenburg. It is important to find, support, develop and establish innovative cycles, value chains and production chains – from production to processing, to refinement and finally to marketing.

Therefore, the rural area with its diverse actors and cultivation conditions is a real innovative area for bio-based economies. It can be developed as an engine for value creation, employment and the transformation of our society.