EU Commission presents new bioeconomy strategy: a roadmap for green growth, competitiveness and resilience

The European Commission has presented a new bioeconomy strategy aimed at accelerating Europe's transformation towards a sustainable, competitive and resilient economy. The strategic framework sets out how Europe can make more efficient use of biological resources from land and sea to drive the circular economy, decarbonisation, and independence from fossil fuel imports.

Bioeconomy as a growth engine for Europe

With a total economic value of €2.7 trillion and 17.1 million employees — accounting for 8% of all jobs in the EU — the bioeconomy is already a key driver of innovation, employment, and value creation. For every direct job in this sector, three additional indirect jobs are created in the EU.

Bio-based products — ranging from chemicals derived from algae for use in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, to bio-based plastics, textile fibres, sustainable building materials, and fertilisers — demonstrate the enormous potential of the European bioeconomy, which is currently only partially exploited.

Objectives of the new bioeconomy strategy

1. Scaling up bio-based innovations

In order to advance the 'bio-tech revolution', the Commission intends to bring research results to market more quickly.

Plans include:

• a coherent and simplified legal framework that favours sustainable business models;
• accelerated approval procedures for innovative solutions, especially for SMEs;
• stronger promotion of bio-based technologies through existing and future EU programmes;
• the establishment of a bioeconomy investment task force to bundle bankable projects and mobilise private capital.

2. Developing lead markets for bio-based materials

The strategy identifies sectors with particularly high growth potential, such as:

• bio-based plastics
• textile fibres and chemicals
• sustainable fertilisers and plant protection products
• biomass processing, biorefineries and fermentation
• Technologies for the permanent storage of biogenic carbon are also covered.

To increase demand, the Commission intends to examine binding targets for bio-based product shares.

Plans are also in place for a Bio-based Europe Alliance, which is expected to generate joint procurement worth 10 billion euros by 2030.

 3. Ensuring the sustainable use of biomass

While Europe is largely self-sufficient in biomass, this position must be secured in the long term. The strategy therefore focuses on:

• Responsible procurement
• protection of soil, forests, water resources and ecosystems;
• promoting the circular economy, particularly through the use of secondary biomass (residues, by-products and biogenic waste);
• incentives for farmers and foresters who strengthen carbon sinks and use sustainable practices.

4. Seizing global opportunities and strengthening European resilience

Europe should take a leading role in the global market for sustainable, bio-based technologies. To this end, the EU intends to:

• build partnerships that reduce geopolitical dependencies;
• facilitate access to international markets for European companies;
• strengthen Europe's resource security, which is a key factor given its fragility.

Background

The bioeconomy encompasses all activities that use biological resources – such as those from agriculture, forestry, fisheries or biomass processing – to provide food, materials, energy, technologies and ecosystem services.

The new strategic framework builds on the 2012 bioeconomy strategy and the updates from 2018 and 2022. The focus is now shifting significantly towards industrial scaling, market introduction, international competitiveness and strategic resilience.

Further information can be found here.