Policy

Recognising our central, national role, we have extensively leveraged our expertise and network to help shape the development of the policy landscape that will enable and embed a functioning bioeconomy.

Bioeconomy Ireland Week, an annual festival in October.

Building partnerships

BiOrbic has a strong partnership with the national Bioeconomy Implementation Group, which is chaired by two government departments, has been established to develop the bioeconomy in Ireland. Along with this group, BiOrbic has co-founded the National Bioeconomy Forum, which meets regularly to hear from diverse public voices on related issues. BiOrbic has also been instrumental in the development of Bioeconomy Ireland Week, an annual, national festival celebrating the bioeconomy, organised by the Bioeconomy Implementation Group, BiOrbic and several other partners. Beginning as BiOrbic’s launch day in 2017, it is now a broad-reaching event that supports awareness building, discussions and the forming of new relationships.

NATIONAL POLICY

Working with the Bioeconomy Implementation Group, BiOrbic contributed to the National Policy Statement on Bioeconomy (2018). The centre continues closely with key national policy stakeholders to place the bioeconomy as a key objective in a number of Government policies including Project Ireland 2040, Future Jobs Ireland and the Government Climate Action Plan to Tackle Climate Change. Bioeconomy is now also an objective of the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies and ‘ Food Vision 2030 A World Leader in Sustainable Food Systems ’. Recognised for its leadership in policy development, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) selected a BiOrbic team to develop a ‘Circular Bioeconomy Outlook 2030-2050.

Consultation meeting with An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

Minister Charlie McConalogue visits Farm Zero C.

Announcement of an MoU between BiOrbic and Harvest.

Visit by U.A.E Minister H.E. Mariam Al Mehairi to BiOrbic.

Visit by White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director, Dr Kelvin K Droegemeier.

Agricultural Innovations for People, Nature and Climate Discussion event at the British Embassy

INTERNATIONAL POLICY

Our centre is delighted to leverage its expertise in the bioeconomy to support the development of policy internationally. In terms of EU policy, BiOrbic leadership has contributed to the writing of ‘ The circular bio-society 2050‘ and was present on the EU Missions Board on “Adaptation to climate change and societal transformation” in 2019. In addition, our work on the CAPBIO4BG project, supported by the Ministry of Education, will significantly advance bioeconomy development in Bulgaria – an EU BIOEAST initiative county. The British Embassy in Dublin has also commissioned BiOrbic to produce a report and associated recommendations to support engagement on research and innovation in bioeconomy and sustainable agriculture across and between the UK and Ireland in light of Brexit.

READ ABOUT THE DISCUSSIONS AT THE BRITISH EMBASSY

POLICY RESEARCH

In addition to collaborating and engaging with policymakers to influence the formation of policy, BiOrbic also conducts research in this field. This includes examining the existing landscape and how policy impacts the bioeconomy today, predicting future outcomes and analysing the potential of various bioeconomy related policies. We hope this knowledge will help policymakers and other stakeholders make better informed decisions to support the development of the bioeconomy in the right direction.

see our publications

PhD researcher in public policy surrounding development of the bioeconomy, Hannah Gould.

Principal investigator in social science related to the bioeconomy, Maeve Henchion (right).

Funded investigator and Head of School and Associate Professor of Environmental Policy at UCD, Eoin O’Neill (2nd right).