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.
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
The European Commission launched a public consultation that closed on 23 June 2025. The insights received from stakeholders will be taken into account in the development of the future strategy.
To complement the consultation and the high-level Dialogue with Commissioner Roswall, several targeted stakeholder workshops are planned. These workshops will focus on key themes vital to the future of the bioeconomy:
- How to scale-up and accelerate innovation in the bioeconomy?
- How to finance the scale-up of innovators in the bioeconomy?
- How to improve the circularity of the bioeconomy?
- Securing a sustainably sourced biomass supply
A summary report of the public consultation analysing all stakeholder contributions is available here.
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.
Success stories
3R-BioPhosphate is pioneering a new approach to resource utilisation by developing and deploying industrial-scale solutions to upcycle unused biomass.
Coffee!Up, a Czech-based circular innovation platform, transforms this overlooked waste stream into a valuable resource through cascade recycling.
See how the VIVALDI project is converting CO₂ into sustainable and valuable bioproducts.
Discover toymaker Dantoy, which is creating toys from bio-based plastic derived from sugarcane.
The LIFE RESTART project is transforming beer waste into bio-based plastics, replacing fossil-fuel-based plastics and creating jobs.
With LIFE C2M support, COMP0LIVE is launching a startup to transform olive pruning waste into sustainable biocomposites.
Latest News
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The high-level discussion will focus on the future of Europe's sustainable bio-based economy and will support the development of a new EU Bioeconomy Strategy, to be presented by the end of 2025.