Bioeconomy Breakfast

The new EU bioeconomy strategy: an asset for competitiveness and decarbonisation

The bioeconomy is an essential asset for implementing the competitiveness compass and decarbonising the economy. Biological materials, nature-based solutions and biotechnologies can provide sustainable alternatives to existing fossil-based solutions. They can also be produced and processed directly in our territories, which is an asset for our regions, especially the most rural ones. The bioeconomy is also a resilient, high-growth sector for the continent. Between 2012 and 2021, value added in the bioeconomy sectors in real terms increased by 39%, mainly thanks to the bio-based manufacturing sectors. The European Commission will present a review of the EU bioeconomy strategy by the end of 2025. 13 years after the first EU bioeconomy strategy, how can we scale up from niche to norm, using bio-based products everyday in place of fossil-based products? What are the current bottlenecks preventing the EU from becoming more competitive?

Moderation: Dirk Carrez, Executive Director of BIC (Bio-based Industries Consortium)

8.00 – 8.05: Welcome words in the name of the organisers, Anne Sander, President of Grand Est-Europe

8.05 – 8.15: What are the priorities of the new EU bioeconomy strategy ? EU Commissioner Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for the Environment, Water Resilience and the Competitive Circular Economy

8.15 – 8.30: From farmers to industrials, how can the EU bioeconomy strategy be an asset for a competitive, circular and low-carbon Europe?

– Norbert Lins, MEP, Vice-Chair of the AGRI Committee, (EPP, German)

– Christophe Clergeau, MEP, member of the ENVI Committee (S&D, French)

8.30 – 8.45: How can regional strategies support a sustainable supply of biomass?

– Peter Hauk, Minister for Food, Rural Affairs and Consumer Protection Baden-Württemberg

– Philippe Mangin, Vice-President of Bioeconomy, Bioenergy and Sustainable Food, Grand Est Region

8.45 – 8.55: Reactions from the audience.

8.55 – 9.10: From niche to norm, how can bioeconomy scale-up and overcome obstacles?

Economic actors from both regions

– Michel Mangion, President of Bioeconomy4Change

– Tobias Wolfinger, CEO at Technikum Laubholz GmbH

9.10 – 9.20: Reactions from the audience.

9.20 – 9.25: Conclusions by EU Commissioner Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and Competitive Circular Economy

Simultaneous interpretation will be provided in French, English and German.