#Bioeconomy

Catherine Bowyer & Ben AllenENRD CP/IEEP

Brussels, 09 October 2018

Bioeconomy value chains and rural development – the policy context

• The desire to both promote and respond toadvances in scientific knowledge and theevolution of technologies that offeralternative opportunities for creating valuefrom biomass.

• The opportunities for the bioeconomy todrive sustainable development have not yetbeen realised at scale.

• A potential opportunity for producers,processors, consumers and society at large.

Given the historic and ongoing use of biomass in the economy the question might be asked:

Why the emphasis now on creating or transitioning to a bioeconomy?

Adaptation to climate change

Carbon sequestration

Use and reuse of biowaste

Circular Economy – economy wide, intrinsic feedback

loops, adding value to waste

Bioeconomy– primary

production, resource efficiency,

bio-alternatives

Avoiding single

use plastic Beyond a

Fossil Economy

GHG emission reduction

Resource efficiency

Green Growth

Sustainable development

Rural futures

Ecosystem services

A circular, bioeconomy – delivering multiple goals

Global Interest in the Bioeconomy

Combined EU Bioeconomy Strategy and Action Plan was adopted in 2012 -European Commission (2012) Innovating for sustainable growth: Abioeconomy for Europe• key definitions and needs from the bioeconomy, focusing primarily on research

needs

• promoting national and regional action, non binding

The Strategy was reviewed in 2017. The review concluded that:• further mobilisation of investment is needed;

• emerging policy objectives need to be addressed (including globalcommitments UN SDGs);

• clear indicators for monitoring progress to be defined to ensure thebioeconomy operates within natural resources limits.

Autumn 2018 (22 October) a revised Strategy is scheduled to be adoptedby the European Commission.

The Bioeconomy in the EU

The Bioeconomy in the EU

1. Ensuring food security;

2. Managing natural resources sustainably;

3. Reducing dependence on non-renewable sources;

4. Mitigating and adapting to climate change;

5. Creating jobs and maintaining EU competitiveness.

• The production of renewable (sustainable), biological products and resources – scale is important

• Primary production relies on inputs – can be both linear and circular

• Relies on common resource streams

• Can deliver efficiency but needs to be considered collectively - best and most efficient use of resource

7. Affordable and Clean

Energy

2. Zero Hunger

Land use and management

Environmental services

Wealth and job creation

Food/Biomass

15. Life on Land

1 No Poverty

6. Clean Water

13. Climate Action

12. Responsible consumption

and production

3. Good Health and Well-Being

Building and expanding knowledge base –• EIP AGRI - Building new biomass supply chains for the bio-based

economy, Final Workshop Report, 27-28 May 2015

• SCAR Network - Sustainable Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries inthe Bioeconomy - A Challenge for Europe, 4th SCAR ForesightExercise - 2015

• Stakeholder Panel - Bioeconomy stakeholder manifesto - 2017

• EEA - European Environment Agency - The circular economy andthe bioeconomy: Partners in sustainability, Report 8/2018

Challenges to address in mainstreaming the bioeconomy

• Lack of communication, knowledge transfer & cooperation

• Different mind set and lack of trust

• The lack of market pull

• Limited research and development support

• Lack of investment in logistical infrastructure

• Need to develop value chains that increase incomes to the biomass producers

Developing bioeconomy value chains

Supply chains describe the flow of goods

and services between different actors,

such as the production of wheat, its

collection, processing, the manufacturing

of pasta and eventual sale.

Value chains describe the flow of value between different actors in a supply chain and may include a broader set of actors than in supply chains.

Value = environmental, economic and/or social

The role of RDPs in mainstreaming a sustainable bioeconomy

P1: Knowledge transfer and information

P4: Restoring, Preserving and

Enhancing Ecosystems

P5: Resource-efficient, Climate-resilient Economy

P6: Social Inclusion and Economic Development

1A: Innovation and cooperation

1B: Strengthening links

1C: Learning and training

4A: Restoring biodiversity

5B: Increasing efficiency

5C: Renewable energy

5D: Reducing GHG emissions

5E: Carbon conservation

6A: Diversification

6B: Local development

M1

M2

M6

M8

M11

M16

M19

M12

M13

M15

M10

M7

M4

Thank you for your attention!

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