On 9-10 September 2026, the Rural BioReFarmeries project convened stakeholders from across Europe for a workshop and demonstration day in Aarhus (Denmark), pairing expert-led discussions with hands-on visits to two pioneering green biorefinery facilities: the grass biorefinery demo plant at Aarhus University’s AU Viborg campus and the farm-based biorefinery at Ausumgaard.
Participants travelled from as far afield as Finland, Poland, Bulgaria, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Kenya, reflecting the green biorefinery movement’s true international reach. The group brought together a rich mix of perspectives (researchers, companies and start-ups, farmers and farming cooperatives, agricultural media, and organisations from the biogas and agricultural sectors), all united by a shared interest in sustainable bio-based innovation.
The site visits gave participants a rare opportunity to see theory in action, linking policy and research discussions directly to real-world green biorefinery operations. The turnout and enthusiasm on display clearly signalled the growing momentum behind sustainable bio-based solutions across Europe. During the workshop sessions, participants examined the barriers and opportunities shaping the sector, analysing the economic, political and environmental forces driving its development.
Commercial Danish actors offered candid, on-the-ground insights into what will be required to scale up green biorefinery solutions in the years ahead. Networking was also one of the event’s biggest highlights, and informal conversations during breaks and site visits sparked new connections and reinforced existing partnerships — and several participants have since joined the RBRF Network, laying a strong foundation for continued collaboration and innovation across the sector.
By bringing together voices across the value chain, Rural BioReFarmeries continues to drive knowledge exchange and accelerate the growth of sustainable green biorefinery solutions across Europe.
Notes and photos by Karen Bonefeld Møller (SEGES Innovation), partner in the Rural BioReFarmeries project.