Bioeconomy

This science for policy report collects the contribution of 42 scientists from JRC and external organisations to provide a cross-sectoral overview of the biomass produced and used in the EU-27, as well as specific data on biomass production, supply, uses and flows by sector. It also dives into topics such as the trade of bio-commodities or some innovative wood-based products.

In February 2023, the Commission launched a new package of measures to improve the sustainability and resilience of the EU's fisheries and aquaculture sector, including two Communications, an Action Plan and a Report. The measures aim to promote the use of cleaner energy sources, reduce dependency on fossil fuels as well as reduce the sector's impact on marine ecosystems, without leaving behind the social and economic aspects.

The new plan aims to enhance the competitiveness of Europe's net-zero industry and support the fast transition to climate neutrality. Based on four pillars (a simplified regulatory framework, faster access to funding, enhancing skills, and global cooperation and trade for the green transition) it provides a more supportive environment for the scaling up of the EU's manufacturing capacity for net-zero technologies and products, including bio-based substitutes for critical raw materials and innovative advanced biofuels.

In this report, five authors share their perspectives on the existing narratives related to the bioeconomy, after discussions held at a workshop of the Community of Practice on Bioeconomy, last November. The themes covered include: understanding human-nature relationship to frame the bioeconomy; facing the challenges of green growth; embedding the Environmental Justice agenda principles for a just bioeconomy; and the complexity of the agri-food system. The authors identify so far under-represented perspectives in the bioeconomy discourse, to develop an alternative vision for a “green, just and sufficient bioeconomy”.

The EU Bioeconomy Monitoring System is being developed by the JRC to track economic, environmental and social progress towards a sustainable bioeconomy. This publication reports the first assessment of the trends of the EU bioeconomy, based on the tracked indicators. The analysis shows that while resource efficiency is improving, there is a growing pressure on ecosystems from forestry and agriculture.

The Knowledge Centre for Bioeconomy online library provides a one-stop shop for filtered and distilled knowledge on the bioeconomy to support evidence-based EU policymaking. It is constantly updated with the latest publications, datasets, events, news, visualisations and other resources, and made publicly accessible. This report describes the workflow process and methods to curate, organise, store and share the bioeconomy-relevant knowledge.

The European Commission, together with EU countries, relevant stakeholders, NGOs and other parties, ‘co-developed’ an actionable plan to achieve the green and digital transition and improve the resilience of the chemical industry. This roadmap, composed of cross-cutting actions, technology, and regulatory components, identifies the access to sustainable biomass as alternative feedstock for the bio-based chemistry as a key element, among others.

Carbon Dioxide Removal involves capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it on land, in oceans, geological formations or products, and is crucial if we are to meet the Paris Agreement temperature goals. The State of Carbon Dioxide Removal, led by the University of Oxford’s Smith School of Enterprise, is a first global scientific assessment of Carbon Dioxide Removal. The report takes stock of the most significant research and innovation in the field, to provide a clear and reliable knowledge base to researchers, policymakers and practitioners.

The European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture Products (EUMOFA) has just released the 2022 edition of its biannual blue bioeconomy report that provides an updated overview of the EU’s blue bioeconomy sector. The report explores the latest developments of micro- and macroalgae cultivation systems, with a particular focus on sargassum - a genus of brown macroalgae that plays a crucial role in marine ecosystems. It also looks at the crucial role that macroalgae ecosystems play in the marine carbon cycle and provides an analysis of how macroalgae can transform regional economies.

Surfactants derived from biomass; whereas surfactants are molecules that consist of one hydrophilic (having strong affinity with water) part and one hydrophobic (repelling water) part (Kjellin & Johansson, 2010) or substances that tends to reduce the surface tension of a liquid in which it is dissolved (Oxford dictionaries).

The Commission has adopted a new Communication to create opportunities for the algae industry, to help it grow into a robust, sustainable and regenerative sector capable of meeting the growing EU demand. This policy initiative identifies 23 actions to improve the algae governance framework and business environment, close knowledge, research, technological and innovation gaps, and increase social awareness and market acceptance of algae and algae-based products in the EU.

All roundwood felled or otherwise harvested and removed. It comprises all wood obtained from removals, i.e., the quantities removed from forests and from trees outside the forest, including wood recovered due to natural mortality and from felling and logging. It includes all wood removed with or without bark, including wood removed in its round form, or split, roughly squared or in other form, e.g., branches, roots, stumps and burls (where these are harvested) and wood that is roughly shaped or pointed.

All non-living woody biomass not contained in the litter, either standing, lying on the ground, or in the soil. Dead wood includes wood lying on the surface, dead roots, and stumps [larger than or equal to 10 cm in diameter or any other diameter used by the country].

It is the area that corresponds to the total sown area for producing a specific crop during a given year.

A new consensus to increase the ambition of the EU's Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR) has been reached by the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council. The agreement establishes binding annual greenhouse gas emission targets for Member States in sectors not currently included in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). The agreement importantly maintains the Commission's proposal to boost the emission reduction target for these sectors from 29% to 40% by 2030, compared to 2005 levels.