Narrative on Bio Based Material Value Chain

To this end, Wageningen UR has concluded in an exploratory preliminary study with various stakeholders active in the transition of biobased construction that there is a need for insight into the attractiveness of cultivation (and processing) of biobased crops for construction for different groups of farmers. LTO companies in particular asked this question explicitly. With our Outreach project we set up a narrative ‘that reflects the state of affairs in BBM to an audience that is familiar with BBM but is interested in how key players see the developments, in connection with the potential for the development of their own farm’.

A joint narrative by WUR, chain partners and farmers shows evidence-based feasibility of biobased materials cultivation for its application in the building sector by discussing successes, potential and uncertainties. This will enhance the dissemination of its potential among potential stakeholders and society in general.

The business case for BBM production needs further development of chain and in its (legal, policy, financial) environment. The aim of the project is to provide interested farmers with the opportunity learn from experience, and to reach a wider audience (e.g. stakeholders and (supporting) chain partners) by processing narrative and dialogues into a visual end product.

With the collaboration of a farmer, a processer and a real estate area developer of the fibre hemp value chain, three different market perspectives on biobased crops for the construction sector are highlighted in a video. In the video (in Dutch) “Biobased crops in the construction sector”, these partners depict their motives and critical success factors, feasibility and new chain and policy collaboration regarding the market development of biobased cultivation for the construction sector. The video has three messages:

1. Motivation and collaboration: there is a market pull from motivated people who dedicate energy in building new value chains for the building sector, in their aim to make both agriculture and the building sector sustainable and future-proof with biobased materials. Motivation and ambition by chain partners and public sector are a driving factor determining the viability of the biobased material for the building sector.

2. Market potential: the biobased chain has passed the pioneering phase but viability of biobased crops still needs improvement to feature as main crop in de farmer’s business model. Viability may increase not by reducing costs, but by adding value by developing a circular, biobased housing sector and CO2 credits benefitting growers of biobased crops.

3. Feasibility: Farmers are the providers of raw biobased materials and indispensable to reach the Dutch climate goals (CO2 emissions), and the full revenue from CO2 credits should go to them.