What is the strategy about?
The bioeconomy strategy will accelerate the deployment of a sustainable European bioeconomy. It has 5 goals
- ensure food and nutrition security
- manage natural resources sustainably
- reduce dependence on non-renewable, unsustainable resources
- limit and adapt to climate change
- strengthen European competitiveness and create jobs
The strategy contributes to the European Green Deal, as well as industrial, circular economy and clean energy innovation strategies. They all highlight the importance of a sustainable, circular bioeconomy to achieve their objectives.
The strategy is implemented by means of an action plan.
Action plan
The bioeconomy action plan contains 14 concrete actions
Strengthen and scale up the biobased sectors, unlock investments and markets
- mobilise stakeholders in developing and deploying sustainable biobased solutions
- launch a €100 million circular bioeconomy thematic investment platform
- analyse enablers and bottlenecks for the deployment of biobased innovations
- promote and develop standards
- facilitate the deployment of new sustainable biorefineries
- develop substiutes to fossil-based materials that are biobased, recyclable and marine biodegradable
Deploy local bioeconomies rapidly across the whole of Europe
- launch a strategic deployment agenda for sustainable food and farming systems, forestry and biobased products
- launch pilot actions for the deployment of bioeconomies in rural, coastal and urban areas
- support regions and EU countries to develop bioeconomy strategies
- promote education, training and skills across the bioeconomy
Understand the ecological boundaries of the bioeconomy
- enhance knowledge on biodiversity and ecosystems
- monitor progress towards a sustainable bioeconomy
- promote good practices to operate the bioeconomy within safe ecological limits
- enhance the benefits of biodiversity in primary production
National bioeconomy strategies
Foresight from The Standing Committee on Agricultural Research (SCAR) has been instrumental in developing national bioeconomy research and innovation strategies for EU countries and for the Commission. SCAR represents 37 countries: its members are ministries - or other organisations such as research councils - from all EU countries, with candidate and associated countries as observers.
The BIOEAST initiative offers a shared strategic research and innovation framework for working towards sustainable bioeconomies in Central and Eastern European countries.
EU countries with a national bioeconomy strategy
Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands and Spain
Non-EU countries with a national bioeconomy strategy
Norway and the United Kingdom
Timeline
- February 2012
Europe's initial bioeconomy strategy is adopted. It addresses the production of renewable biological resources and their conversion into vital products and bioenergy
- November 2017
A new way forward is decided at the bioeconomy policy day: event outcome report and webstreamed sessions.
- November 2017
Bioeconomy stakeholders manifesto is launched, providing guidance to regions and EU countries developing their own strategies, as well as to the EU as a whole
- January 2018
A review of the bioeconomy strategy refocuses the actions to better support the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Paris Agreement climate objectives and new EU policy priorities
Publications
- Factsheet
- Directorate-General for Research and Innovation
Food 2030 pathways for action factsheet collection
Documents
- 18 NOVEMBER 2020
- 20 MAY 2020
- 2 DECEMBER 2019
- 12 OCTOBER 2018