Bioeconomy Strategy

The bioeconomy includes biomass production, biomass conversion into food, materials and products, and bioenergy. The bioeconomy is essential for the EU to reach its climate and energy goals by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050, while combating biodiversity loss and pollution.

The implementation of the 2012 bioeconomy strategy and its update in 2018 achieved significant progress in research and innovation. The new strategy aims at taking full advantage of the revolution in biotechnology. The bioeconomy has the potential to advance the EU’s environmental goals, developing a circular economy without damaging nature. This strategy for economic growth will be aligned with the Competitiveness Compass, the Clean Industrial Deal, and the Vision for Agriculture and Food.

A lightbulb covered in green grass standing upright against a blue and cream coloured background — © mikkelwilliam, Getty Images

Objectives

The Bioeconomy Strategy aims to boost innovation and support European companies in making a success of the green transition. Circular and sustainable production, and consumption of biological resources for materials and services, can increase efficiency and reduce pressure on resources.

The strategy will help make EU businesses more competitive and increase green jobs – without damaging nature. It will be aimed at European farmers, foresters, industry and businesses, particularly SMEs and startups in rural and coastal areas.

The main goals of the strategy are:

Ensuring the long-term competitiveness of the EU bioeconomy and investment security. Identifying measures to scale up and commercialise existing and emerging biotech solutions and bio-based products.
Increasing resource-efficient and circular use of biological resources. Transforming the use and valuation of biomass resources, prioritizing extended high-value applications while encouraging industries and consumers to embrace circular practices.
Securing the competitive and sustainable supply of biomass, both domestically and from outside EU. Strengthening the role of primary producers, generating wealth in rural areas by creating jobs and diversifying incomes for foresters and farmers and rewarding them for the preservation of ecosystems.
Positioning the EU in the rapidly expanding international market for bio-based materials, biomanufacturing, biochemicals, and agri-food and biotech sectors. This will be done, in particular, by steering existing foreign policy mechanisms.

Actions

In March 2025 the Commission launched a web-based public consultation. Stakeholders are invited to reply to the survey in the portal and give their views on the call for evidence and the problems strategy aims to tackle.

Several targeted stakeholder workshops will be organised in parallel to the web-based public consultation. A synopsis report analysing all stakeholder contributions will conclude this process.

In addition to the workshops, several stakeholder events will have a focus on the bioeconomy (e.g. EU Green Week 2025 and European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform’s conference).

The consultation on the strategy also takes into account past and ongoing events and consultations, including: the conference on the 2022 progress report, the launch of RIV4BFS, the CBE stakeholder forum, SE Riksdag conference, the Bioeconomy Seminar, the FOOD 2030 conference, and ongoing engagement activities that are part of the preparation of related initiatives.

Monitoring

The Commission will continue to monitor the bioeconomy’s development through the EU Knowledge Centre for Bioeconomy and the Bioeconomy Monitoring System. It will further improve these systems.

The progress of the measures proposed will be continuously monitored, and the Commission will assess their implementation four to six years after the adoption of the strategy.