BEAM Circular is unlocking the power of communities to transform waste into opportunity. The organization works with local communities, industry, government, and educators to accelerate circular bioeconomy innovation and sustainable biomanufacturing, focusing on practical solutions. The very solutions that transform food waste, agricultural sidestreams, and forestry residues into valuable products – including bio-based materials, chemicals, energy, and food ingredients. Their regional approach, anchored in California’s North San Joaquin Valley, aims to catalyze circular bioeconomy development on an unprecedented scale and demonstrate a new model for economic resilience, shared prosperity, and environmental stewardship. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
organization, BEAM Circular leads a portfolio of public-private projects and initiatives driven by community priorities, industry needs, and environmental sustainability. “BEAM” stands for BioEconomy, Agriculture, & Manufacturing — reflecting the industry intersections where we focus our work. “Circular” represents our dedication to enabling solutions that reduce and repurpose waste, stewarding natural resources, and supporting healthy communities. By facilitating collaboration across key players spanning the bioeconomy supply chain, BEAM Circular is advancing and scaling innovations in bio-based products that deliver value for local communities, farmers, and the planet. In addition to their anchor projects listed below, they provide funding opportunities to local businesses – creating jobs in their region, community-led efforts to expand access to the bioeconomy, and educators & institutions pioneering new educational pathways.

The CBIO Collaborative is an ecosystem of regional partners spanning industry leaders, workforce development partners, scientists, educators, community leaders, capital holders, and policymakers. BioCircular Valley is developing a dynamic digital platform to inform and accelerate the commoditization of non-food and feed biomass from California’s North San Joaquin Valley, facilitating sustainable, bio-based production in the region, for a wide range of products and purposes such as fuels, chemicals, and ag applications.

Partners working on this include BEAM Circular, the United States Department of Agriculture, UC Merced, UC Berkeley, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. The Innovation Campus will be a global center of excellence dedicated to scaling zero-waste biomanufacturing and advancing circular bioeconomy innovation in the North San Joaquin Valley. It will provide shared equipment and infrastructure, and is strategically designed for technology flexibility and feedstock diversity – particularly emphasizing emerging inputs such as agricultural residues, food waste, and woody biomass. The campus will also enable co-location opportunities for symbiotic projects and
complementary upstream, downstream, and light manufacturing activities, while integrating closely with local workforce development and broader economic growth initiatives. On May 21st, BEAM Circular and gener8tor are hosting BioCatalyst: Industry and Innovation Exchange. BioCatalyst is BEAM Circular’s
premier annual gathering that brings together industry leaders, investors, and innovation partners to accelerate the circular bioeconomy in California and beyond.

This high-impact event showcases cutting-edge technologies, emerging market opportunities, and collaborative pathways to transform organic waste into new bio-based products. The incredible 2026 cohort of our Accelerator program, in partnership with gener8tor, will be featured in a live pitch session, something you won’t want to miss. To register or learn more, visit www.beamcircular.org/biocatalyst.