On March 17, the European Council approved the conclusions of the EU's new bioeconomy strategy. It endorsed the vision of building a competitive and sustainable bioeconomy by 2040, advocating the use of bio-based and circular solutions in relevant sectors as fossil-free alternatives, and supporting related innovation and investment.
The bioeconomy relies on renewable biological resources such as plants, animals, and microorganisms to produce food, energy, and industrial products.
Speaking on behalf of the rotating presidency of the European Union, Cypriot Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou stated, "The transformation led by the bioeconomy is already tangible across Europe: from everyday bio-based products like beeswax lipstick and linen textiles to cutting-edge materials like automotive parts made from olive tree waste. The conclusions reached by the Council today send a clear and firm signal: competitiveness, sustainability, and local innovation must be core elements in the EU's path to building a resilient bioeconomy and achieving European strategic autonomy by 2040."
The Council concluded by endorsing the European Commission's EU bioeconomy strategy, considering it a timely and crucial step in enhancing Europe's competitiveness, resilience, prosperity, and sustainable development.
The conclusion emphasizes the need for efficient implementation of existing EU legislation related to the bioeconomy and for updating national action plans in line with this strategy. The Council supports increased innovation efforts and measures to support investment in sustainable bio-based solutions, including expediting approval processes, simplifying regulations, and promoting the EU's global leadership in the bioeconomy.
Creating stable and predictable market demand for sustainable bio-based materials and technologies is key to stimulating private investment. Against this backdrop, the Council emphasized the need to explore and strengthen high-potential sectors to create leading markets in the bioeconomy.
These leading markets should not be limited to those listed in the EU's bioeconomy strategy (such as bio-based plastics, chemical products, building materials, and fertilizers), but should also extend to footwear and textiles, papermaking, and other sectors of the blue bioeconomy (such as the development and utilization of algae and sponges).
Recent reports show that the EU's biomass self-sufficiency rate is approximately 90%, essentially achieving self-sufficiency. The Council called for ensuring a sustainable supply of biomass, considering it crucial for the long-term development of the bioeconomy; it also urged member states to utilize biomass efficiently throughout the entire bioeconomy value chain, while also considering environmental protection and promoting the use of secondary biomass such as by-products, biowaste, and residues.
Background:
The bioeconomy creates numerous jobs in the EU; approximately one in every 12 jobs across the EU is supported by the bioeconomy, employing 17.1 million people. In 2023, the total value of the EU's bioeconomy was estimated at €2.7 trillion, making it the fastest-growing industry in the EU and playing a vital role in environmental protection and promoting the circular economy.
In response to the Council's conclusions on bioeconomy issues in 2023 and 2024, and the European Council's strategic agenda for 2024-2029, the European Commission formally adopted a new EU bioeconomy strategy on November 27, 2025.
