Biotechnology does not live in a vacuum. The same innovation can look like a promising solution, a potential risk or simply something irrelevant, depending on who you are, where you live and how you experience the food system or the bioeconomy in your daily life. 

 This is why B-Trust works with concrete biotechnology cases rather than speaking about biotechnology in general. The project focuses on specific applications in the agri-food and bio-based sectors, around which tailored co-creation trajectories are designed. Each case becomes a real-life laboratory for understanding how trust is built, lost or repaired. 

From abstract technology to concrete cases 

Biotechnology often starts its journey in research labs and innovation pipelines. But when it reaches farms, factories, supermarkets or public spaces, questions multiply. Who benefits from this technology? What are the risks this technology brings and who is exposed to them? How does this affect local communities and our environment? 

B-Trust uses six biotech cases to develop a methodology designed to bridge this gap. For each case, partners look at a particular application of biotechnology in a clearly defined context, involving agri-food production, processing or bio-based materials. They identify the actors that are most directly affected, the wider group of stakeholders with a say in the debate, and the kind of hopes and concerns that are already visible or likely to emerge. 

In other words, each case starts with a simple but powerful ambition: to talk about this specific biotech application with the people whose lives, work or environment it touches. 

The six biotechnology cases that shaped the B-Trust methodology 

The cases were not chosen at random. They were meant to cover different beneficiaries, different goals and applications, and different levels of development, outreach and awareness. Country partners looked at where biotechnology is already very present in research and industry, where political and public debates are heating up, and where their stakeholder networks could bring in rich and diverse perspectives. Each country prioritised the cases that best matched its context and expertise, with some cases deliberately explored in more than one country to compare how trust issues evolve in different contexts. 

• Case 1: Cell factories  

This case focuses on precision fermentation, sometimes called “cell factories”, that can produce ingredients such as milk proteins, proteins for feed applications, flavourings and speciality additives. It was selected because the research and biotech communities in the partner countries are very active in this field, concrete applications already exist in pharmaceutical and food contexts, and industry is exploring many more. 

• Case 2: Bio-based materials 

Here the spotlight is on biotechnologically produced bio-based materials that can replace fossil-based, non-circular options. It was chosen in a context where there is already a strong bio-based industry and a clear interest in moving towards more sustainable materials. 

• Case 3: Biostimulants and biofertilizers 

This case looks at biostimulants and biofertilizers as alternatives to conventional fertilisers and pesticides. It is particularly relevant in regions where over-fertilisation, water quality and nitrogen pollution are high on the political agenda and widely covered in the media. 

• Case 4: Climate-resilient crops 

This case addresses biotechnological approaches to crops that are more resilient in a changing climate. It was selected in a context with a history of test fields for genetically modified climate-resilient crops and strong public debate, including protests and actions by civil society groups. 

• Case 5: Eating the cells 

This case explores cellular agriculture for meat replacement, including cultured animal cells and microbial cells for direct consumption. It is especially interesting in countries where policy choices diverge, for example where one country has banned cultured meat while another is actively investing in this emerging industry. 

• Case 6: Bacteriophages 

Here the focus is on using bacteriophages to reduce the need for antibiotics in sectors such as pork production. It was chosen in a context where intensive livestock farming and overuse of antibiotics have triggered government action and increased public awareness around the impact of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms  

Together, these six cases cover a wide range of biotechnology applications, from ingredients and materials to crops, animal health and future food options. They allow B-Trust to observe how trust in biotechnology plays out across different sectors, policy debates and cultural contexts.