The in-person event will bring together European and Latin American experts in Colombia to promote the valorisation of coffee waste and access to international funding.
Brussels, April 7, 2026. The Finnova Foundation, together with the European project ECOFFEE, is organizing the EU–LAC International Workshop “Circular Bioeconomy and Sustainable Agriculture: Synergies between Europe and Latin America”, which will take place on April 22 at 14:30 local time in Ibagué (Tolima, Colombia), in a fully in-person format. The event is part of the Glocal Circular Economy Summit – Nova Next Summit, to be held from April 21 to 23, 2026.
The four-hour workshop will bring together institutional representatives, international experts, industry stakeholders, research centres, and entrepreneurs with the aim of transferring European technology, creating funding opportunities, and fostering cooperation between Europe and Latin America in the field of circular economy applied to coffee.
A space to connect European technology and international funding
The workshop “Circular Bioeconomy and Sustainable Agriculture: Synergies between Europe and Latin America” is designed to transfer already validated European solutions to the Latin American context, facilitating their implementation through funding opportunities.
During the event, the ECOFFEE consortium will present its coffee waste valorisation model, which transforms coffee grounds into high-value products such as natural biocides and animal feed. This approach is complemented by innovative technologies such as dry micro-dispersion developed by FumiHogar, reverse logistics and traceability systems by Euskovazza, and animal nutrition solutions validated by AZTI.
In addition, DESCOCENTRO will lead a practical session focused on the formulation of fundable projects through the AL-INVEST Verde programme, providing participants with concrete tools to develop replicable initiatives in their territories.
A programme structured for action
The event will combine institutional sessions, technical presentations, demonstrations, and interactive participation spaces:
· Institutional opening with local authorities from Ibagué, presenting the challenges of the agricultural sector in Tolima
· Speech by Juanma Revuelta, CEO of Finnova, on EU–Latin America cooperation and opportunities under the European Green Deal
· Technical panel on sustainable agriculture and bioinnovation, with experts in biofumigation and agricultural safety
· Networking break to facilitate connections between local and European stakeholders
· Panel on circularity in the coffee value chain, with participation from AL-INVEST Café, Tecnicafé, DESCOCENTRO, and ECOFFEE
· Final open discussion to identify future opportunities and address questions
The workshop is aimed at representatives from the public sector (local authorities, waste managers, agricultural policymakers), the productive sector (coffee cooperatives, producers, and associations), and innovation actors (universities, research centres, and Agrotech entrepreneurs). Participants will gain a clear technical understanding of coffee waste valorisation, direct access to validated European technologies, and strategic knowledge on how to access international funding through AL-INVEST Verde.
This workshop represents a key step toward advancing circular bioeconomy models in Latin America, particularly in regions where coffee is a major economic and social driver.
About the ECOFFEE project
The ECOFFEE project has a total budget of €256,451.25, co-funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme (Grant Agreement CIRCULOOS No. 101092295). The consortium, composed of AZTI, Euskovazza, FumiHogar, and the Finnova Foundation, aims to demonstrate an integrated model for coffee grounds valorisation through innovative technologies and digital traceability systems.
More information: https://ecoffeeproject.eu/