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Author: Giuseppe Bogani and Camila Charpentier Alfaro | Lombardy Green Chemistry Association
Technological innovation and advanced AI tools, such as the one being developed within the ARGONAUT project, look extraordinary on paper. They promise to streamline complex data analysis, quantify environmental impacts through automated calculations and assist users in identifying and completing missing information across complex inventories and fragmented data sources along bio-based value chains. However, algorithms only achieve their true potential when they encounter the daily operational reality of those working on the ground. To build digital tools for sustainability that are genuinely useful and adopted in the long term, the project cannot rely solely on theoretical models, it must start by listening to the people, businesses and local organizations who navigate these markets every day.
To achieve this objective and support the development of effective, practical solutions, data collection, interviews, and co-creation workshops are far more than formal project requirements. They form a vital two-way bridge between technical developers and local stakeholders. On one side, collecting structured input allows technical partners to build accurate inventory data and develop JASON, ensuring the underlying algorithms reflect authentic material flows. On the other side, industry representatives and experts provide the contextual knowledge needed to understand real-world dynamics, daily operational bottlenecks and market constraints. This iterative dialogue ensures that the resulting digital solutions are tailored to genuine user needs, rather than abstract ideals.
Translating established business practices, informal processes and complex supply chain activities into structured data for an AI engine is no small feat. Industrial processes in the bio-based sector can be highly heterogeneous and may rely on practical experience, company-specific knowledge and information collected in different formats and systems. Converting this rich, messy reality into inputs that an AI tool like JASON can digest requires far more than technical expertise: it demands empathy, flexibility, and ongoing communication.
This “behind-the-scenes” effort is precisely where technology meets the human factor. Bridging this gap means taking the time to ask the right questions, listening to feedback with an open mind and continually refining our approach so that all this valuable information can be incorporated into JASON to better align with industrial and societal needs and expectations. Without this human touch, digital tools risk remaining impressive on paper while failing in real business environments because they overlook how companies actually work.
Furthermore, the data-gathering phase serves as an invaluable diagnostic tool for the bio-based sector as a whole. As we engage with regional stakeholders, we frequently observe that many SMEs face significant hurdles when attempting to quantify their environmental footprint. They may lack dedicated sustainability departments, harmonised data-management systems or the resources required to navigate intricate regulatory frameworks. By actively involving these actors in the co-design of JASON, ARGONAUT does not merely extract data from them, it provides them with an entry point into the digital transition. The process demystifies LCA methodologies and AI applications, transforming what often feels like a burdensome compliance requirement into a strategic asset for business innovation.
The project’s goal extends beyond gathering data points: it is building an active, collaborative ecosystem. By creating dedicated spaces for face-to-face dialogue, local Use Cases and regional partners cease to be mere “data providers.” Instead, they become active co-creators and key actors in ARGONAUT’s twin transition toward a green and digital circular bioeconomy. This collaborative network fosters cross-sectoral trust, accelerates knowledge transfer, and encourages local value chains to explore new circular business models that might not have emerged in isolation.
Ultimately, the digitalisation of the circular bioeconomy will not happen in isolated laboratories or software environments alone. It is built step by step, voice by voice, directly on the ground. By valuing local insights alongside technical excellence, ARGONAUT is ensuring that the tools we create today will truly empower the bio-based industries of tomorrow. As JASON continues to evolve through iterative feedback, this dialogue will remain essential to ensuring that its development stays grounded in real-world needs and application.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS | What People Often Ask
- What are the main drivers for the development of bio-based value chains?
The two most important drivers are the potential for feedstock diversification (moving away from fossil resources) and the ability to introduce new functionalities in products.
Find out more about development of the development of bio-based value chains
- What is the value chain of a product?
The Value Chain is a model, originally proposed by Michael Porter, that describes the full range of activities required to bring a product or service from conception through the different phases of production, delivery to final consumers, and final disposal/recycling.
Find out more about the value chain of a product
- What are examples of bio-based products?
Bio-based products are wholly or partly derived from renewable biological resources (biomass), such as plants, algae, animals, or various types of organic waste, and are generally an alternative to petroleum-derived products. Examples include:
Find out more about the bio-based products
