Written by: Dimitris Moustakis, AFS

From 12 to 15 March 2026, the Thessaloniki International Exhibition & Conference Centre became the epicentre of agricultural innovation as it hosted the 31^st Agrotica International Fair. Capitalising on this massive industry platform, AFS coordinated a highly successful BBioNets Info-day.

Over the course of the four-day exhibition, the AFS’ stand engaged well over 100 sector professionals, including four major farmer/forester cooperatives, a substantial cohort of young farmers and foresters (approx. 33%), and female agricultural leaders (approx. 15%).

Turning Waste into a Competitive Edge at Scale

Unlike smaller, localised workshops, the Info-day at Agrotica was designed for broad, cross-sector industry outreach. The primary objective was to demonstrate the commercial and operational viability of Bio-Based Technologies (BBTs) to professionals spanning both the primary and secondary agri-food sectors.

Rather than viewing agricultural waste and excess biomass as costly logistical burdens, the BBioNets team showcased how these materials can be strategically reclaimed to build a distinct competitive advantage. The event featured personalised, face-to-face consultations where exhibition visitors could explore exactly how specific bio-based solutions could be integrated directly into their existing production lines to slash operational costs and elevate sustainability.

Bridging the Gap with Practical Technical Resources

To support these high-level discussions, BBioNets leveraged a suite of specialised educational and training materials. Developed by project experts and translated into Greek, these resources were distributed widely to serve as a permanent technical reference point for farmers, cooperatives, and industry experts alike.

The conversations focused on actionable pathways for innovation:

• The BBioNets Project: Introducing professionals to the project’s core objectives and its open-access knowledge transfer material.
• Operational Groups: Highlighting how these collaborative groups act as the ultimate vehicle for deploying cutting-edge bio-based innovations straight into real-world farming practices.
• Digital Repositories: Guiding visitors through the project’s digital toolkits designed for independent, on-farm implementation.

Solidifying Industry Credibility

By maintaining a high-visibility presence at the leading agricultural event in the Balkan region, BBioNets significantly fortified its technical credibility and professional standing within the agri-food value chain.

The event successfully positioned BBioNets as a premier platform for the practical dissemination of bio-based innovations. This widespread engagement sparked immediate momentum, with dozens of agricultural professionals expressing a clear intent to utilise BBioNets’ material and tools to actively transform their own commercial production processes.