The project is supported by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking and its members. Funded by the European Union under grant agreement No101214206. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CBE JU. Neither the European Union nor the CBE JU can be held responsible for them.

As Europe accelerates its ecological transition, RUNFASTER4EU is stepping forward to demonstrate a bold new approach for sustainable agricultural practices that deliver both environmental and economic benefits. Launched in July 2025, this flagship European project focuses on turning marginal lands (abandoned or degraded) - often overlooked - into productive sources of bio-based raw materials for high-value products, while safeguarding food production and preserving natural ecosystems.

With the aim of enhancing the circular bioeconomy, RUNFASTER4EU will focus on cultivating low-ILUC-risk oil crops such as safflower, along with other oleaginous plants, on lands that are not intended for food or feed production. This sustainable approach will provide essential raw materials for a range of bio-based products, including cosmetics, bioplastics, bio-stimulants, bioherbicides, dielectric fluids, feed ingredients, and Non-Isocyanate Polyurethanes (NIPU) for vertical gardens.

By leveraging circular bioeconomy principles, RUNFASTER4EU demonstrates how underutilized lands can contribute to both environmental sustainability and economic growth, supporting Europe’s shift toward a more bio-based economy.

RUNFASTER4EU - Flagship demonstRation of bio-based valUe chaiNs For vAloriSaTion of sustainablE oil cRops for marketable applications.

The project is supported by the Circular Bio-Based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), a partnership between the European Union and the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC), with a significant contribution of €19.9 million. The project brings together 18 partners from 10 European countries, combining industrial leadership and scientific expertise to build a resilient, circular bioeconomy across the continent.

The project will be implemented in Italy, Greece, Serbia, Spain, and Romania, where large-scale cultivation trials will be conducted in collaboration with local farmers, ensuring the viability of these new agricultural practices.

At the core of the project are the upgrades of two major Italian biorefineries:

• Matrìca Biorefinery, Porto Torres
• Versalis Biorefinery, Crescentino

These biorefineries will serve as key hubs for developing and scaling up the production of bio-based raw materials for a variety of sustainable products.

RUNFASTER4EU aims to:

• Demonstrate sustainable and replicable agricultural practices, for cultivating low-ILUC-risk oil crops on marginal lands.
• Enhance soil health and promote carbon sequestration as part of a sustainable agricultural model.
• Advance bio-based value chain by providing vegetable oils and residual biomass as feedstock for high-value bio-based products adopting a circular bioeconomy approach, maximising biomass transformation and minimising waste.
• Expanding bio-based products by upgrading biorefineries to process above mentioned vegetable oils and residual biomass
• Actively involve local communities and farmers, supporting economic growth.

The official kick-off for RUNFASTER4EU took place on 8–9 July 2025 at the Eni R&D Center in San Donato Milanese. This critical milestone brought together representatives from all project partners, along with CBE JU, to map out the key activities and define the next steps for the challenging five-year journey ahead.

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