Circular economy transition - how can the agricultural sector contribute?

Important results from the project

The purpose of the project was to investigate the possibilities to develop a circular economy in the agricultural sector through biogas production. There are opportunities for this development in Falkenberg municipality but unfortunately bureaucracy and complicated rules together with lack off support and encouragement result in failure of many biogas projects. This project concludes that there is a need for a facilitator that can gather actors with different roles in the process and se possibilities, collaborations and remove obstacles that inhibits business model innovation.

Expected long term effects

Effects of the project can be a larger amount of produced, utilized and sold biogas in Falkenberg municipality. Business development can result in a number of new projects and applications for support that will create jobs and local production of vehicle fuel. Increased biogas production will contribute to the climate goals in several ways which can be quantified in lower emissions of CO2 equivalents. If the projects results are implemented the development of business models will lead to more biogas produced on farms and more nutrients will be circulated through the use of biomanure.

Approach and implementation

The project arrangement with workshops, surveys and interviews with different actors within the municipality was successful since it gave a good picture of the situation and the different obstacles and driving forces for a circular economy in agriculture. The actors different roles and possibilities to contribute to the transition showed the need for a facilitator that can work independently with politicians, authorities and companies. What the final role of the facilitator, where it should be placed and competence needed will be discussed further and coordinated between actors.