The Institute for Research and Innovation in Agro-Food and Agro-Environmental Sciences (CIAGRO) hosted the first edition of AgroCircular 2026 on 19 June. This professional event, designed to connect research, business, public administrations and local stakeholders, is positioned as a strategic matching platform aimed at accelerating technology transfer and sustainability in the agri-food sector.

The event, co-organised by the Circular Economy Cluster Association and the UMH Knowledge Transfer Service (KTS) —with the sponsorship of the Chair for the Transformation of the Economic Model of the Generalitat Valenciana—, brought together a highly qualified professional audience. Representatives from agri-food companies and supporting industries, research staff, technology centres, startups and public administrations jointly analysed applied solutions to the main challenges facing the value chain.

Scientific Solutions to Real-World Challenges Facing the Productive Sector

The event featured advances, trends and use cases relating to the valorisation of waste and by-products, generational renewal, energy efficiency and water scarcity. The event included technical and scientific presentations by experts such as Raúl Moral, Pedro Javier Zapata, Estefanía Valero, Gema Romero, José Ángel Pérez, Elisabeth Parres and Raúl García.

In addition to the theoretical sessions and presentations of business experiences, the event included technical visits to the agrocomposting plant and campus facilities —a practical example of circular economy in situ— as well as networking activities. This format facilitated direct contact, the assessment of the feasibility of new developments and the identification of avenues for public-private cooperation.

Key Demands and Cooperation Opportunities Identified

The conclusions drawn from the 1st edition of AgroCircular confirm strong interest in implementing circular models, while also revealing priority areas of work for the R&D&I ecosystem:

1. Stronger University-Business Links: The productive sector is calling for more direct ways to access research capabilities and integrate mature technologies into its processes.
2. Access to Funding: There is a clear need for clear, structured information on grants and incentives for implementing sustainable solutions.
3. Validation of Practical Solutions: Growing interest has been identified in pilot projects and real-world cases involving by-product valorisation, sustainable fertilisation and water efficiency.
4. Creation of Stable Platforms: There is a need to consolidate thematic working groups that can turn local needs into collaborative R&D&I projects.

Next Steps and Impact

Following the positive feedback from speakers and attendees, the organisers are already working to establish AgroCircular as a leading annual event. For future editions, the aim will be to expand networking opportunities, develop dedicated thematic working groups and strengthen partnerships with funding organisations.

As part of its commitment to scientific dissemination and knowledge transfer, the entire event was recorded audiovisually and is publicly available as training and knowledge-transfer material.