A journey from East to West: Twinning activity in the Ebro River Basin
On 23 September 2026, the Ebro River Basin demo-region hosted its first twinning activity under GREENHOOD's capacity-building programme, welcoming more than 45 European partners from Poland, Ukraine, and Latvia for a full-day study visit to the GREENHOOD pilots in Catalonia.
About the twinning programme
The GREENHOOD twinning programme is a knowledge-transfer mechanism designed to extend the project's results beyond its four demo-regions to other European regions, with a particular focus on Central and Eastern Europe. Through field visits, mentoring, and direct exchange between scientists, policymakers, and practitioners, the programme aims to accelerate the uptake of validated nutrient management practices and support their replication elsewhere in Europe.
Who visited and why?
The visiting delegation brought together representatives from three Eastern European countries (Poland, Latvia, and Ukraine) whose visit to BETA Technological Centre within the AGRI-BIOCIRCULAR-HUBS project framework provided the opportunity to connect with GREENHOOD and explore its pilots in the Ebro River Basin. The visit offered participants first-hand exposure to innovative technologies and solutions being tested in the region, with the goal of supporting knowledge transfer and potential replication in their home regions.
What took place?
The day opened with a presentation by the project coordinator, introducing GREENHOOD's context, objectives, and pilot sites. This was followed by an overview of BIOEAST, its activities, thematic areas, and operational framework, giving participants a broader picture of the European networks supporting this kind of cross-regional exchange.
The delegation then visited two GREENHOOD pilot sites. At Torre Santa Maria, participants explored the biogas and biomethane production facilities and the pilot area, receiving detailed explanations of the available technologies and their applications. At the Balaguer wastewater treatment plant, the group visited the Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) pilot, with a presentation covering its operation, biological processes, plant species, objectives, and technological components.
To support their understanding of the technologies and solutions presented, participants were also provided with an informative leaflet on the GREENHOOD project and its pilot sites.
Key outcomes
The study visit was organised by BETA Technological Centre, with the support of Sorigué (Torre Santa Maria) and the Balaguer wastewater treatment plant. Partners from EURECAT, CIRCE, and IG4 also participated in the visit. Together, the activity facilitated cross-border knowledge exchange between the GREENHOOD pilots in Catalonia and partners from Eastern Europe, strengthening international collaboration, raising awareness of the project's objectives and activities, and increasing institutional visibility and networking opportunities across borders.
Looking ahead
This first twinning activity marks the beginning of a structured knowledge-sharing pathway for the Ebro River Basin demo-region, which will continue through further exchanges and events aimed at broadening the reach of GREENHOOD's results across Europe.