The bioeconomy encompasses biomass production, the conversion of biomass into food, materials, and products, as well as the production of bioenergy. It is essential for the EU to reach its climate and energy goals by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050, while combating biodiversity loss and pollution.
The Strategy for a Competitive and Sustainable EU Bioeconomy aims to take full advantage of the biotechnology revolution. It follows the 2012 bioeconomy strategy and its 2018 update, which have achieved significant progress in research and innovation.
The bioeconomy has the potential to advance the EU’s environmental goals, developing a circular economy without damaging nature. This strategy for economic growth will be aligned with the Competitiveness Compass, the Clean Industrial Deal, and the Vision for Agriculture and Food.
Objectives
The Strategy for a Competitive and Sustainable EU Bioeconomy aims to boost innovation and support European companies in making a success of the green transition. Circular and sustainable production, and consumption of biological resources for materials and services, can increase efficiency and reduce pressure on resources.
The strategy will help make EU businesses more competitive and increase green jobs – without damaging nature. It will be aimed at European farmers, foresters, industry and businesses, particularly SMEs and startups in rural and coastal areas.
The main goals of the strategy are:
- Ensuring the long-term competitiveness of the EU bioeconomy and investment security. Identifying measures to scale up and commercialise existing and emerging biotech solutions and bio-based products.
- Increasing resource-efficient and circular use of biological resources. Transforming the use and valuation of biomass resources, prioritizing extended high-value applications while encouraging industries and consumers to embrace circular practices.
- Securing the competitive and sustainable supply of biomass, both domestically and from outside EU. Strengthening the role of primary producers, generating wealth in rural areas by creating jobs and diversifying incomes for foresters and farmers and rewarding them for the preservation of ecosystems.
- Positioning the EU in the rapidly expanding international market for bio-based materials, biomanufacturing, biochemicals, and agri-food and biotech sectors. This will be done, in particular, by steering existing foreign policy mechanisms.
Actions
The Strategy for a Competitive and Sustainable EU Bioeconomy was published on 27 November 2025. More information is available here, as well as a Q&A and factsheet.
The Strategy is based on the insights received during a public consultation that ended in June 2025.
To complement the consultation and the high-level Dialogue with Commissioner Roswall, several targeted stakeholder workshops are planned. These workshops will focus on key themes vital to the future of the bioeconomy:
- How to scale-up and accelerate innovation in the bioeconomy?
- How to finance the scale-up of innovators in the bioeconomy?
- How to improve the circularity of the bioeconomy?
- Securing a sustainably sourced biomass supply
Monitoring
The Commission will continue to monitor the bioeconomy’s development through the EU Knowledge Centre for Bioeconomy and the Bioeconomy Monitoring System. It will further improve these systems.
The progress of the measures proposed will be continuously monitored, and the Commission will assess their implementation four to six years after the adoption of the strategy.
You can also read a Joint Research Centre brief that focuses on the economic value of the bioeconomy, including employment and innovation.
Success stories
A company called 3R-BioPhosphate Ltd. is pioneering a new approach to resource utilisation by developing and deploying industrial-scale solutions to upcycle unused biomass.
Coffee!Up, a Czech-based circular innovation platform, transforms this overlooked waste stream into a valuable resource through cascade recycling.
Discover how the VIVALDI project is turning CO₂ into sustainable and valuable bioproducts.
Latest News
It also adopted rules to implement the EU-wide voluntary certification framework for carbon removal and carbon farming.
The initiative aims to increase innovation and support European companies in making a success of the green transition.
The 2025 European Business and Nature Summit (EBNS) in Helsinki will bring together Europe's business and financial sectors with a common goal of fostering profitable and sustainable business practices that work in harmony with nature.