Why this is important

Implementing the Bioeconomy to meet the grand challenges ahead

The Bioeconomy encompasses the sustainable production of renewable resources from land and water and their subsequent conversion into food, feed, fiber, bio-based products and bio-energy as well as the related public goods. The Bioeconomy is an important element of Europe’s reply to the grand challenges ahead, like adaption to and mitigation of the effects of climate change, the challenge of feeding the future world population or the challenge of producing more goods from fewer resources. The Bioeconomy includes primary production, such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture, and all industries using/processing biological resources, such as the food/feed and pulp and paper industries and parts of the chemical, biotechnological and energy industries. A transition is needed from the predominantly oil-based industries of today towards an optimal use of renewable biological resources for the production of a multitude of products in the future. The Bioeconomy is about sustainable primary production and processing systems that can produce more food, feed, fiber and other bio-based products with fewer inputs, less environmental impact and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

A number of Member States have developed their own Bioeconomy Strategies, as has the European Union. Please refer the following link to get a selection of bio economy strategies available for download.

The European project BERST ‘Bioeconomy regional strategy toolkit’ has developed a catalogue of instruments & measures and aims to support regions in Europe to develop smart bioeconomy strategies.

The Catalogue provides detailed information on Instruments and Measures facilitating bioeconomy development in regions throughout Europe. The Catalogue can be useful for a wide variety of stakeholders from regional policy makers over local entrepreneurs to profit and non-profit organisations.