AgroForest Biomass and Circular Bioeconomy
The agroforest sector plays a leading role as a biomass supplier to obtain bio-based products that allowed an acceleration in the circular bioeconomy transition. This chapter applied a mixed-methods review to identify new attractive bio-based products and to evaluate its market potential in Portugal. Forest biomass was identified as an excellent raw material for (1) low-carbon building materials, (2) biotextiles, and (3) bioplastics. The potential of agro-food waste to obtain new bio-based materials was also emphasised. The new bioproducts identified have high potential and attractive markets. It was estimated that a 5% market share of these bioproducts in the global construction, textiles, and plastics markets in 2030 corresponds to an aggregate increase in revenues of 260-579 million € per year in Portugal. The environmental sustainability implications arising from the diffusion of these new biomaterials are also highlighted, focusing on the decarbonisation of the economy.