Currently, the main focus in both conventional and advanced biofuel production processes is on the production of the specific biofuels rather than on the development of processes that maximise the valorisation of the raw materials to both bioenergy and bio-based products in a sustainable way.

Valorisation of both primary and secondary biofuel chain and process residues to added-value bio-based products (chemicals, materials) is the short term option for upgrading of these processes to integrated biorefinery processes, maximising the overall valorisation of the raw materials concerned, minimising the biofuel production costs, and thereby increasing their market competitiveness.

Integration of both biochemical and thermo-chemical biomass conversion processes into already existing petrochemical infrastructures is another short term option to valorise biomass to both bio-based products and biofuels, greening their fossil counterparts.

Development of relatively small-scale concepts seems to be a favoured option to introduce more advanced (green and whole crop) biorefinery processes into the market at mid-term. These concepts require less initial investment which is an advantage for the industrial stakeholder support for the introduction of new risky initiatives and because of the economy-of-duplication these concepts are expected to become market competitive soon. These concepts will create the perceptional, socio-economic and environmental framework for the introduction of even more advanced (lignocellulosic feedstock and marine) biorefinery concepts at larger scale on the longer-term.