Building a circular model for cotton in Karditsa: the cooperative perspective

Building on a strong cooperative tradition

The Agricultural Cooperative of Karditsa “NEA ENOSI” was established in 2013 by a group of 33 producers who shared a common vision: to create a modern agricultural organization based on scientific innovation, technological advancement, professional expertise, and a strong commitment to supporting farmers.

While formally founded in 2013, NEA ENOSI represents the continuation of a long cooperative tradition in the region, building on the experience, knowledge, and relationships developed over decades through the Agricultural Cooperative Union of Karditsa. This continuity enabled the cooperative to maintain strong ties with the local farming community and preserve the trust that had been built with producers since 1928.

Today, although the cooperative was founded by 33 producers, it serves more than 1,000 farmers annually through a wide range of agricultural support services. This close connection with the farming community places NEA ENOSI in a unique position to facilitate innovation and encourage the adoption of new practices. Participation in the PRIMARY project reflects this commitment. By exploring new ways to utilise cotton residues, the cooperative aims to contribute to the development of circular value chains that create both environmental and economic benefits for farmers.

Turning cotton residues into a resource

A key activity carried out within the PRIMARY project took place in October 2025, immediately after the cotton harvest. NEA ENOSI coordinated the collection of approximately 50 tonnes of cotton plant residues from fields in the Karditsa region.

Cotton field in Karditsa during the harvest period. (Credit: Thomi Vaiopoulou)

As is often the case with innovative initiatives, one of the first challenges was farmer engagement. Many producers were initially cautious about participating in an unfamiliar process involving the collection and future valorisation of cotton residues. Building trust and explaining the potential benefits of the pilot activities required extensive communication and close cooperation between the cooperative and local farmers.

The pilot activities were ultimately made possible through the participation of a small group of pioneering farmers willing to explore new approaches to residue management and contribute to the development of future circular value chains.

NEA ENOSI played a central role throughout the process, identifying and engaging participating farmers, coordinating field operations, arranging the necessary equipment, and organising the transportation of the collected biomass.

Following collection, the biomass was transported to the facilities of the Energy Community of Karditsa (ESEK), where it entered the next stage of the PRIMARY value chain. Working in close collaboration with the Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), the project partners processed the cotton residues through drying, size reduction and pelletisation to produce solid biofuels for a range of pilot applications. As the technical and research partner in the Greek pilot, CERTH supports the development, optimisation and evaluation of biomass conversion technologies, providing scientific expertise throughout the process. ESEK complements this role by operating the pilot-scale facilities and demonstrating practical applications that can be implemented at local level.

 

One of the main valorisation pathways under investigation is the production of cotton-based pellets as feedstock for gasification. Through thermochemical conversion, the pellets can be transformed into renewable energy while simultaneously producing biochar, a stable carbon-rich material with significant potential for improving soil quality, increasing water retention, enhancing nutrient retention and contributing to long-term carbon sequestration. CERTH is assessing the technical performance of the gasification process and the quality and potential applications of the resulting biochar, while ESEK is supporting the demonstration of the technology under real operating conditions.

Stockpiled cotton biomass prepared for further processing. (Credit: Vasileios Filippou)

In parallel, ESEK is producing blended biomass pellets consisting of cotton stalks and woody biomass. These blended fuels are being evaluated for use in biomass boilers supplying heat to municipal buildings in the Karditsa region. The pilot aims to demonstrate how locally available agricultural residues can partially substitute conventional woody biomass, creating new regional value chains that simultaneously reduce agricultural waste, increase renewable energy production and strengthen local energy resilience. The close collaboration between NEA ENOSI, ESEK and CERTH demonstrates how agricultural cooperatives, energy communities and research organisations can work together to develop practical circular bioeconomy solutions. While NEA ENOSI coordinates biomass mobilisation and farmer engagement, ESEK provides the infrastructure for processing and demonstration and CERTH contributes the scientific knowledge required to evaluate and optimise these innovative biomass valorisation pathways.

Sharing knowledge and early lessons

In February 2026, NEA ENOSI hosted a stakeholder workshop in Karditsa, bringing together project partners and local stakeholders to discuss progress and share the first insights from the pilot activities.

The workshop highlighted both the opportunities and the challenges associated with creating circular value chains from agricultural residues. Discussions confirmed that farmers are increasingly interested in solutions that can generate additional value from existing resources, provided that these solutions are practical, economically viable, and supported by reliable evidence.

Stakeholder workshop organised by NEA ENOSI within the PRIMARY project in Karditsa. (Credit: Michalis-Alexandros Kougioumtzis)

One of the key lessons learned so far is that innovation in agriculture depends not only on technology but also on trust, collaboration, and effective communication. The active involvement of farmers, cooperatives, researchers, and local organisations is essential for transforming promising concepts into practical solutions.

Looking ahead

The collection and evaluation of cotton residues represent only the first steps in a longer journey. As PRIMARY progresses, project partners will continue to investigate additional valorisation pathways, including the production of biochar and other bio-based products that may contribute to more sustainable farming systems. Future activities will focus on assessing technical performance, environmental benefits, and practical implementation opportunities, helping to determine how these approaches can be scaled up and integrated into everyday agricultural practice. Through its continued engagement with farmers and stakeholders, NEA ENOSI will remain committed to supporting innovation and helping build a more circular and resilient future for agriculture in Karditsa.

Closing

The experience gained so far demonstrates that agricultural residues should not be viewed simply as waste, but as resources with untapped potential. By bringing together farmers, cooperatives, researchers, and local partners, the PRIMARY project is helping to lay the foundations for new circular opportunities in the cotton sector and beyond. For us, the most important outcome so far is that farmers have been willing to engage with a completely new idea. Circular economy starts with people who are prepared to explore new possibilities and work together.

Author: Iliana Antoniou (NEA ENOSI)