Bridging Digitalisation and Agricultural Circular Bioeconomy: Exploring Resources and Capabilities of Digital Ecosystems in a Living Lab

In this chapter, we analyse the digital ecosystem of the Almería Agroecology Living Lab in Southeast Spain, exploring the intersection between digitalisation, agriculture, and circular bioeconomy. We rely on the resources and capabilities framework, including dynamic capabilities, and a systems perspective to assess which resources and capabilities are needed to integrate digital technologies into the agricultural circular bioeconomy. Moreover, we investigate the broader (eco)systemic conditions, such as governance frameworks and infrastructures, that support or constrain their development and use. Within a Living Lab we explore how digital technologies facilitate the transition towards a circular bioeconomy in agriculture, a high priority given agriculture´s increasing pressure on natural resources and the need to adopt sustainable production models. The findings show that digitalisation in the agricultural circular bioeconomy is enabled by the strategic combination of tangible resources, such as digital devices, experimental farms, reliable connectivity, and intangible resources including knowledge access, specialised personnel, and strong collaboration networks. Their utility depends on functional and dynamic capabilities, notably data literacy, knowledge transfer, adaptability, and trust in digital tools. The study also highlights the decisive role of (eco)systemic conditions: adequate funding mechanisms, coherent data governance, interoperable standards, digital infrastructure and educational systems. Persistent barriers, such as high technology costs, digital skill gaps, and regulatory fragmentation continue to limit digital adoption in agricultural circular bioeconomy contexts.