On 13 November, the European Commission is preparing to adopt an ambitious strategy for a competitive and sustainable bioeconomy, designed to make the EU the world leader in this rapidly expanding sector.
This strategic framework, detailed in a draft communication seen by Agence Europe, aims to decarbonise the economy, strengthen industrial autonomy and create jobs, while ensuring the sustainability of biological resources (see EUROPE 13611/21).
With an estimated economic potential of €2,600 billion (8% of jobs and 5% of the EU’s GDP), the bioeconomy covers sectors as varied as agriculture, forestry, biotechnology and bio-based materials. It aims to replace fossil fuels with renewable alternatives, while stimulating innovation and the resilience of ecosystems.
Breaking down barriers. To move from the laboratory to the market, the EU has identified two major challenges: - regulatory barriers - authorisation procedures are considered to be too slow, and fragmented legal frameworks are slowing down the arrival of innovations (bioplastics, biofertilisers). The Commission is proposing to simplify the rules with the forthcoming Biotech Act and to harmonise European standards;
- financing: the ‘valleys of death’ between R&D and industrialisation stifle promising projects. To remedy this, the Commission is banking on a European Competitiveness Fund (with a ‘bioeconomy’ strand), public-private partnerships (Important Projects of Common European Interest, or IPCEI, biotech) to support breakthrough technologies, and a revision of the EU taxonomy to include bio-based activities and attract investors.
The actions planned are as follows: - the definition of bio-based materials (Biotech Act), in the third quarter of 2026; - the launch of the BioMade Europe alliance in 2025; - revision of the EU taxonomy to include biomanufacturing (fourth quarter 2025); - setting up an IPCEI in biotech in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Growth markets. The strategy targets six priority sectors where bio-based materials can have a transformative impact:
- bioplastics: with production set to double by 2040, these materials could revolutionise the packaging and automotive industries. The Commission intends to harmonise certifications and incorporate bio-based content requirements into regulation;
- bio-based textiles: to reduce microplastic pollution, the EU is focusing on flax, hemp and cellulose fibres. A dedicated working group will support the wool industry;
- bio-based chemicals: their market share could reach 15% by 2040, provided that authorisation procedures are speeded up (currently two to three times longer than in the United States);
- building materials: wood, bamboo or mycelium could replace concrete;
- biofertilisers and biopesticides: to reduce dependence on mineral fertilisers and synthetic pesticides, the Commission is planning tax incentives and awareness-raising campaigns for farmers.
Biomass. With 90% self-sufficiency, the EU intends to maintain this balance by optimising the use of resources (priority to food and materials before energy), recovering waste (the Commission wants to develop biorefineries and measures to make better use of agricultural or forestry by-products), and strengthening sustainability (common criteria will be defined to avoid overexploitation of soil and forests).
In addition, faced with a global bioeconomy market estimated at $4,500 billion (and 30,000 billion projected by 2050), the EU wants to secure its supplies through trade agreements (imported sustainable biomass), export its technologies (Bioeconomy Business Mission) and avoid dependency.
Link to the draft: https://aeur.eu/f/j1n (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)