According to the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, in 2015, the bioeconomy in the EU employed over 18 million people, mainly in the fields of agriculture and food and beverages’ manufacture.

The aim of bioeconomy is to have an innovative and low-emissions economy, bringing together demands for sustainable agriculture and fisheries, food safety, and the use of renewable biological resources for industry, while protecting biodiversity and the environment. In October 2018, the European Commission unveiled a new Bioeconomy Strategy, aiming to accelerate the establishment of a sustainable European bioeconomy while maximising its contribution towards the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as the Paris Climate Agreement.

The “Bioeconomy development in EU regions” final report acknowledges the need to analyse and thoroughly understand regional conditions and potential in order to deploy bioeconomy at a regional level. Although there are still disparities across Europe, several regions of Central and Eastern Europe have adopted measures, combining funds from Cohesion Policy and the CAP, proving the interconnection and the diversity of thematic fields within the same concept.

EURACTIV organised this high-level Stakeholder Forum to discuss the role of bioeconomy in the CAP. Questions included:

Is bioeconomy equally perceived across Europe?

How can we make sure all EU countries have an active role in the bioeconomy innovation process?

How can policymakers correct the perceived problem of a lack of regulation for private investment?

How would the ensuing new supply chain shape farmers’ activities?

What would be the role of rural areas, given that urban spaces would be the main location for the new value chains in the bioeconomy framework?

How can Horizon 2020 funding produce tangible results on the ground?

DISCLAIMER: This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the European Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

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