In March 2025, the European Commission launched a public consultation to prepare the next update to its Bioeconomy Strategy. As Europe confronts rising resource demands, climate pressures and biodiversity loss, this strategy offers a way to rebuild the base on renewable foundations. The update is also driven by a central challenge: competitiveness. As global markets transition toward low-carbon and resource-efficient production, the EU must ensure that its industries, regions and research systems are equipped to lead in sustainable innovation.
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The EU Bioeconomy Strategy is the European Union’s roadmap for transforming the way biological resources are produced and used across sectors such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries, food, energy and manufacturing. Its aim is to replace fossil-based, unsustainable systems with ones rooted in renewable biomass, while ensuring that ecosystems and biodiversity are safeguarded.
First adopted in 2012 and updated in 2018, the strategy supports the European Green Deal and contributes to the EU’s climate, industrial, energy and circular economy goals. It is structured around five core objectives: ensuring food and nutrition security; managing natural resources sustainably; reducing dependence on non-renewable inputs; limiting and adapting to climate change; strengthening European competitiveness through job creation.
The strategy is implemented through an Action Plan: key actions include scaling up biobased industries, developing biorefineries, creating biodegradable alternatives to fossil-based materials and launching a €100 million Circular Bioeconomy Investment Platform. It also supports regional pilot programs in rural, coastal and urban areas, while promoting education and training across the value chain. In parallel, the strategy advances research on ecological boundaries, monitoring systems and biodiversity integration into primary production.
National efforts complement the EU framework Nine EU countries and two non-EU countries currently have dedicated national bioeconomy strategies. The Standing Committee on Agricultural Research (SCAR), involving 37 countries, has supported the development of these national strategies and the alignment with EU priorities. In Central and Eastern Europe, the BIOEAST initiative offers a shared research and innovation platform for building sustainable bioeconomies.
The strategy places strong emphasis on local and regional development. Biorefineries that convert agricultural waste, marine biomass or forest residues into food ingredients, chemicals and textiles are central to this transformation. Its focus on circularity means turning waste into resources and ensuring that production stays within safe environmental limits.
The upcoming Bioeconomy Strategy will define the next phase of EU leadership in this field. It aims to accelerate the uptake of bio-based innovation, close investment gaps and strengthen the role of regions and primary producers in delivering green growth.
More information is available at:
EU Bioeconomy strategy: link.
Public consultation: link.
Communication from the EU Commission to the EU Parliament: link.