Knowledge Centre for Bioeconomy

Issue 8, November 2022

This is the bi-monthly newsletter of the European Commission’s Knowledge Centre for Bioeconomy with information on some of the recent publications and news relevant for policymaking in the field of the bioeconomy. For more information, you can browse and search our entire knowledge base by visiting the Knowledge Centre for Bioeconomy website.

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The coordination team

European Commission's Knowledge Centre for Bioeconomy

Bioeconomy knowledge highlights

Updated EU biomass flows

The JRC’s ‘EU Biomass flows’ dashboard has been updated with new harmonised data presented in the form of Sankey diagrams. The updates include a full refresh of agriculture and food data, extension of agriculture, food and food waste time series to 2019, new waste flows for aquatic-based food and improved conversion of trade data for agricultural and food commodities to biomass equivalent.

An overview of the algae industry in Europe

In this new report, the JRC presents its updated database on algae, with recent data on algae production, novel socio-economic data and an extension to enterprises that are part of the post-production steps of the algae value chain. Based on these data, the report illustrates qualitative and quantitative aspects of the production and use of macroalgae, microalgae and Spirulina in Europe.

Rethinking agriculture

This briefing from the European Environment Agency focuses on the role agriculture can play in addressing environmental and sustainability challenges in Europe and worldwide. Firstly, it proposes a reflection on what makes this important sector unsustainable under the current geopolitical, social and economic context. Secondly, it identifies the specific functions which make agriculture essential to contribute to sustainability goals, and that should be preserved and supported in the future.

Mainstreaming biodiversity in forestry

The relation between forests' overexploitation and biodiversity loss is at the centre of this publication by the FAO and the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR). It shows that biodiversity conservation is strictly linked to social, economic and environmental sustainability. The report presents necessary strategies, actions and policies, as well as barriers and threats to effectively mainstream biodiversity in forestry, along with case studies in eight countries from all over the world.

Managing healthy and resilient ecosystems in the EU bioeconomy: register to the webinar

This report, published earlier this year, provides guidance on managing healthy and resilient ecosystems in the context of the bioeconomy in Europe. It focuses specifically on agro-ecosystems, forest ecosystems and marine aquaculture ecosystems. On 1 December 2022, the lead author Jeanne Nel (Wageningen University and Research) will present its main findings in a webinar, jointly organised by the Commission’s Knowledge Centre for Bioeconomy and Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity.

Read also...

Towards a strong and sustainable EU algae sector

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.

EU Bioeconomy conference 2022 - video recordings now available

The EU Bioeconomy conference took place on 6-7 October 2022, bringing together more than 1600 participants. The conference featured a series of success stories and stimulated interesting discussions, including on how increasing biomass demand for energy and industrial needs can be matched with climate and biodiversity objectives. The video recordings of all sessions are now available.

Launch of the Biomethane Industrial Partnership

On 28 September 2022, the European Commission, together with industry leaders, launched the Biomethane Industrial Partnership (BIP) announced in the REPowerEU Plan. This new public-private partnership is open to all interested stakeholders that wish to work towards achieving the target of 35 billion cubic metres of biomethane production and use by 2030. It will contribute to an integrated net-zero energy system as well as to the reduction of Europe’s dependency on imported natural gas.

German government presents key points for its upcoming biomass strategy

The German government issued guidelines for its biomass strategy, which will be developed in synergy with stakeholders and adopted next year. The document aims to ensure a full alignment between sustainable biomass exploitation and climate, environmental and biodiversity goals. It thus focuses on the sustainably available biomass potential, the preservation of natural ecosystems and the priority of food security.

Initiative to accelerate the energy transition of EU fisheries and aquaculture sector

The European Commission has launched a call for evidence to gather feedback on a new initiative to help accelerate the energy transition of the EU fisheries and aquaculture sector. The initiative will put in place the structures to enhance cooperation between stakeholders and help remove the current barriers to the uptake of energy-efficient technologies, in order to make sure the sector can strengthen its resilience and improve its long-term social, economic and environmental sustainability.

EU agrees to increase carbon removals through land use, forestry and agriculture

The European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council have reached an agreement on the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) regulation, to increase the EU's target for net carbon removals by natural sinks to 310 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030. This agreement sets ambitious and fair targets for each Member State to reverse the decreasing trend of the EU's carbon sink.

Agreement on national emission reductions from transport, buildings, waste and agriculture

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.

Words from the bioeconomy world

Primary woody biomass

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.

This is an edition of the enewsletter published by Knowledge Centre for Bioeconomy via the European Commission's Knowledge4Policy platform

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