The Government of Catalonia has recently recognised the Agroparc del Penedès, promoted by the Ametller Origen group, as a Strategic Project. This initiative represents an important step forward for the development of the bioeconomy and circular economy in the region, and is one of the projects supported by the European project Bioboost.
This recognition comes at a time when the regulatory framework is evolving to facilitate the implementation of sustainable industrial projects aligned with the environmental and climate objectives of the European Union.
An evolving regulatory framework to support industrial transition
In recent years, the Catalan Government has introduced several regulatory adjustments aimed at adapting the legal framework to the challenges of the energy transition and the transformation of the production model.
Among these measures are the amendments introduced through Agreement 270/2024, which updates the criteria used to classify business initiatives as strategic projects, and Agreement GOV/39/2025, which establishes specific criteria for projects related to biogas production through anaerobic digestion of livestock manure and organic waste.
These changes seek to streamline administrative procedures, reduce approval timelines and introduce specific thresholds for “zero-emissions” projects, while prioritising initiatives aligned with sustainability, technological innovation and the decarbonisation of the economy.
In this context, recognising initiatives linked to the bioeconomy and circular economy as strategic projects can play a key role in facilitating their development and implementation.
Agroparc del Penedès: a pioneering circular economy initiative
The Agroparc del Penedès will be located in the municipalities of Gelida and Sant Llorenç d’Hortons and is conceived as an innovative project that integrates the entire agri-food value chain within a single site.
The project is based on a circular economy approach applied to the agri-food sector, combining primary production, industrial processing and food distribution within the same productive ecosystem.
Such initiatives aim to optimise resource use, reduce waste generation and improve the efficiency of production processes, while contributing to economic development in the surrounding territory.
The role of Bioboost in supporting bioeconomy projects
Agroparc del Penedès is one of the initiatives supported by Bioboost, a bioeconomy project accelerator in Catalonia funded under the Horizon Europe programme.
Through its accelerator services, Bioboost provides technical, strategic and business development support to initiatives that seek to transform biological resources into sustainable economic opportunities. The objective is to help projects mature, strengthen their viability and mobilise investment in the bioeconomy sector.
Strategic projects to accelerate the bioeconomy
Recognising projects as strategic initiatives represents an opportunity to accelerate the deployment of innovative projects that contribute to the transition towards a more sustainable production model.
For these initiatives to fully realise their potential, it will be essential to continue progressing towards more agile regulatory frameworks tailored to the specific characteristics of the bioeconomy, capable of facilitating projects that combine technological innovation, resource valorisation and territorial development.
In this context, projects such as Agroparc del Penedès illustrate how the bioeconomy can become a driver of industrial transformation, creating new economic opportunities while promoting a more circular and efficient production system.
