PRIMARY project

**Background** Across Europe, large quantities of agricultural biomass, such as grass, greenhouse residues, cotton by-products, and olive tree prunings, remain underutilised. These overlooked resources represent a major opportunity to reduce waste, promote local economies, and support the shift towards a circular bioeconomy. **PRIMARY** (New business for farmers and cooperatives in rural areas by local upcycling solutions using underutilised agricultural feedstocks) aims to unlock this potential. By working closely with farmers, cooperatives, SMEs, and local actors, PRIMARY will pilot innovative technologies and develop sustainable, region-specific business models for converting agricultural residues into valuable products such as food, feed, bio-based materials, bioenergy, and fertilisers. With a focus on two regions, Finland and Greece, the project demonstrates how local circular value chains can be developed where such initiatives are currently scarce. The PRIMARY project is funded by the European Union under the Grant Agreement No. 101180167. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.