What is the bioeconomy?
Public Definition
The bioeconomy is about getting the things society needs from living things; plants, animals and microbes.
Technical Definition
The bioeconomy is the part of the economy which uses renewable resources from agriculture, forestry and the marine to produce food, feed, materials and energy, while reducing waste, in support of achieving a sustainable and climate neutral society.
Why is it important?
The bioeconomy already supplies a lot of the things society needs from biological resources. Think of the four F’s; farming, forestry, fishing and fermenting. However, it does not currently do this sustainably and in balance with nature. Similarly, as we move away from fossil fuels, we will need alternatives to the many plastics, chemicals, solvents and other materials provided by crude oil. In summary, we need to rely on the bioeconomy more, whilst also running it better. Without this, a sustainable future isn’t possible.
Who is interested in the bioeconomy?
The bioeconomy has always existed but its importance for a sustainable future in Europe has only recently been recognised. In the past decade or so, European governments have acknowledged the development of a sustainable bioeconomy as a major priority on their agendas and have published their first strategies, action plans and policy statements for bioeconomy. Most European states now have a national, (or at the very least regional) bioeconomy strategy. The Irish government already has an action plan for bioeconomy and will be developing its bioeconomy strategy in 2025. Research Ireland is supporting these goals through various funding schemes that sit under the umbrella of bioeconomy.
