Summary
Prioritising coherence, innovation, and targeted investment will be essential for the renewed EU Bioeconomy Strategy to effectively support the transition to a sustainable and circular bioeconomy. The BioRural Horizon Europe project, active over the past three years, has contributed a rich evidence base from grassroots stakeholders and technical experts across Europe to support the transition to a circular bioeconomy.
Key activities included:
- Survey results from over 400 key bioeconomy stakeholders on the drivers and barriers to a circular bioeconomy.
- 43 national multi-innovation workshops across 14 countries that captured grassroots stakeholders’ opinions on redesigning linear to circular value chains
- The development of a European Rural Bioeconomy Network with over 550 key stakeholders and associated toolkit for a circular bioeconomy
- Range of other activities that engaged 1000’s of stakeholders including in: knowledge exchange workshops, regional and European challenges, identification of success stories and innovation processes.
These activities informed 23 evidence-based policy briefs:
- 12 Horizontal briefs that are applicable to the Bioeconomy Strategy and includes recommendations that apply across the entire bioeconomy, cutting across multiple sectors.
- 11 Specific briefs offering targeted recommendations for key bioeconomy sectors and value chain stages. The following table outlines how the BioRural project’s findings and recommendations directly support the four main objectives of the upcoming EU Bioeconomy Strategy update, demonstrating their strategic relevance and policy alignment.
| Strategy Pillar | How BioRural Policy Briefs Contribute |
| Ensuring long-term competitiveness and investment security | Support for innovation systems, new crop types, modular biorefineries, and rural clustering mechanisms. |
| Increasing resource-efficient and circular use of biological resources | EoW streamlining, valorisation of residues, bio-based alternatives, circular business models. |
| Securing competitive and sustainable biomass supply | Smart farming, logistics centres, forestry decarbonisation, sustainable fertiliser uptake. |
| Positioning the EU in the expanding global bioeconomy | Harmonised standards, certification, and support for novel value chains (e.g. algae, textiles, aquaponics). |
Horizontal Policy Briefs
The horizontal policy briefs address cross-cutting challenges and enablers relevant to the entire bioeconomy landscape. These recommendations are designed to improve coherence across EU sustainability frameworks, streamline regulation, foster innovation, and build structural support for the transition to a circular bioeconomy. They target system-level levers such as classification standards, carbon certification, rural networks, and education systems—ensuring that the broader policy environment supports sustainability, competitiveness, and inclusivity across all sectors.
| Policy Brief Title | Key Recommendation | Why It Matters (Context) |
| Strengthen Coherence Between the EU Bioeconomy Strategy and Key Sustainability Agendas | Ensure policy alignment between the Bioeconomy Strategy and other EU green frameworks (e.g. Green Deal, CEAP). | Fragmented policies risk inefficiency and conflicting goals. Coherent strategies amplify impact and sustainability. |
| Streamline End-of-Waste Criteria | Develop sector-specific, materialspecific EoW criteria. | Current approval processes for reused bio-based materials are slow and inconsistent, hampering circular practices. |
| Harmonise Classification and Certification Protocols for Biobased Products | Introduce EU-wide harmonised standards and certifications. | Fragmented classification systems lower consumer confidence and create trade barriers. |
| Develop (Public) Market Information Systems | Improve access to data on biomass supply, by-products, and market conditions. | Lack of reliable data restricts efficient resource use and discourages SME participation. |
| Integrating Rural Circular Bioeconomy Models into the EU Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF) | Include rural circular practices in CRCF methodologies. | Many valid rural carbon removal methods (e.g. composting) are not currently recognised, limiting their impact and funding eligibility. |
| Systematically Embed Innovation in the Circular Bioeconomy | Establish structured innovation pipelines and platforms across the bioeconomy. | Innovation remains fragmented; structured embedding would support scaling and systemic impact. |
| Support Local and MicroRegional Biomass Storage and Logistics Centres | Promote intermediate depots in decentralized biomass chains. | Local biomass is underutilised due to inconsistent availability and high logistics costs. |
| Develop a Supportive Framework for Rural Circular Bioeconomy Networks | Institutionalise support for regional networks and collaborative schemes. | Effective collaboration drives innovation and sustainability but is currently ad hoc and undersupported. |
| Enhance Education, Knowledge Transfer and Training Policies | Create a standardised, accessible education and training system for CB. | Disjointed curricula and low outreach weaken workforce readiness for the circular bioeconomy. |
| Strengthen Competences and Innovation via Integrated AKIS Framework | Leverage Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS) to support applied research. | Connecting stakeholders through AKIS enhances innovation uptake and rural development. |
| Boosting Rural Bioeconomy: Support Emerging Industries and Clusters | Promote green innovation in both new and traditional rural industries. | Rural industries face barriers to green transition and lack support for biobased clustering. |
| Accelerating Circular Business Models in the EU | Scale up circular business models via funding, guidance, and partnerships. | Circular models are underutilised despite their potential for sustainability and growth. |
Specific Policy Briefs
The specific policy briefs focus on targeted themes, sectors, or value chain stages within the circular bioeconomy. They include concrete actions for decarbonising forestry, promoting sustainable fertilisers, enhancing smart farming, valorising green residues, and unlocking innovation in aquaponics, algae, textiles, and bioplastics. These briefs respond to real-world bottlenecks identified through stakeholder engagement and provide focused, actionable recommendations to scale up promising practices and technologies across Europe’s diverse bioeconomy.
| Policy Brief Title | Key Recommendation | Why It Matters (Context) |
| Accelerating the Decarbonization of Forestry Sector Activities in the EU | Incentivise clean fuels and sustainable practices in forestry operations. | Logging and residue management contribute significantly to emissions; policy gaps limit cleaner alternatives. |
| Advancing Sustainable Fertilizer Use in Europe | Harmonise regulations and support organic/bio-based alternatives. | Fragmented policies hinder uptake of sustainable fertilizers, conflicting with EU green objectives. |
| Unlocking the Potential of Promising Crop Types | Support market creation and longterm contracting for new biocrops. | Innovative crops lack incentives and are uncompetitive versus fossil-based alternatives. |
| Smart Farming for Optimised Biomass Production | Offer shared-access and subsidies for smart farming technologies. | Tech costs and knowledge gaps prevent farmers from adopting precision agriculture. |
| Empowering Rural Bioeconomy through Small-Scale Modular Biorefineries | Fund R&D and implementation of scalable modular biorefineries. | Small biorefineries can enhance rural development but need long-term investment plans. |
| Urban Green Residues: Wood, You Waste It? | Clarify EoW criteria for urban green residues to enable valorisation. | Unclear regulation results in usable biomass being discarded, increasing municipal costs. |
| Encourage Investments in (Biomass-Based) Bioenergy Villages | Classify BEVs within EU Bioenergy Communities for access to finance. | BEVs promote local energy sovereignty but lack institutional and regulatory support. |
| Reclassifying Waste-Derived Algae in Aquaculture | Update classification to allow algae grown on waste to lose “waste” status. | Current waste classification hinders use of algae in high-value products. |
| Support the Implementation of Innovative Aquaponics Systems | Create a tailored regulatory and funding framework for aquaponics. | Aquaponics is efficient and sustainable but faces legislative and funding gaps. |
| Recycled and Biobased Plastics: Promoting a Complementary Approach | Integrate biobased plastics in EU recycling and circularity policies. | Biobased plastics are underutilised despite environmental benefits and innovation potential. |
| Bio-Based Textiles in the EU: Growth Barriers and Policy Solutions | Support sourcing, production innovation, and EoL solutions for biotextiles. | Bio-based textiles face sourcing, cost, and scalability issues, limiting market penetration. |
Cross-Cutting Insights and Strategic Recommendations
The BioRural policy briefs collectively highlight several overarching themes that are essential for advancing a truly circular and resilient rural bioeconomy across Europe. These themes are interconnected and require a holistic approach to ensure their effective implementation.
1. Policy Coherence Across EU Frameworks: Aligning Ambitions for a Sustainable Future
The need for strong alignment between the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, the European Green Deal, the Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP), and the Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF) goes beyond simply avoiding contradictions – it’s about creating a mutually reinforcing ecosystem of policy initiatives. This alignment is vital to streamline overarching goals, maximize potential synergies, and drastically reduce inefficiencies that can hinder progress.
The lack of coherence can manifest in several damaging ways:
- Conflicting Targets: One framework might incentivize biomass production, while another discourages certain land uses.
- Duplicative Requirements: Companies may face multiple sets of reporting or certification obligations that overlap but aren’t directly compatible.
- Misdirected Funding: Funding streams that should be supporting the same overall objectives can be siloed or prioritize conflicting activities.
Consequences of incoherence:
Slowed the momentum and the effectiveness of Bioeconomy policies.
Recommendation
To fully capitalize on the potential of Europe’s rural regions, Bioeconomy Strategy must be strategically aligned with other European policies and initiatives, like the Farm to Fork Strategy, EU Forest Strategy for 2030 and more, to optimize the climate neutrality of actions undertaken.
Concrete Examples
The CRCF should incentivize carbon sequestration in agricultural soils in a way that supports sustainable farming practices outlined in the Farm to Fork Strategy. The Bioeconomy Strategy must actively promote bio-based solutions that contribute to circular economy targets outlined in the CEAP, particularly in areas such as waste reduction and material reuse.
Why this Matters
Coherent policies create a stable investment climate, encourage innovation, and build public trust in the bioeconomy. Clear policy signals are essential to attract both public and private funding to support the transition.
2. Clear and Harmonised Regulatory Frameworks: Building Trust and Accelerating the Transition
Clear, transparent, and harmonized regulatory frameworks, particularly regarding End-of-Waste (EoW) criteria and bio-based product standards, are essential to promote consistency, reduce market barriers, and accelerate investment and material reuse across the EU. Currently, a fragmented regulatory landscape creates uncertainty for businesses, stifles innovation, and impedes the development of cross-border value chains.
Elaboration on Specific Areas
End-of-Waste (EoW) Criteria: Defining when waste can be reclassified as a product or raw material is vital for promoting circularity and resource efficiency. These criteria need to be practical, science-based, and harmonized across Member States to ensure fair competition and prevent market distortions.
Bio-Based Product Standards: Clear standards are needed to define the bio-based content, sustainability attributes, and environmental performance of bio-based products. These standards will help consumers make informed choices, encourage green procurement, and drive innovation towards more sustainable materials.
**Infrastructures to support and guarantee the proper management of waste
Consequences of current state
- Lack of investments in Bioeconomy sector.
- Consumer distrust.
- Greenwashing practices.
- Recommendation:
- Harmonization of the waste product.
- Create certifications, and standards.
- Ensure to follow best practices in traceability.
Why this Matters
Consistent regulatory frameworks reduce risks, increase transparency, and encourage both investment in sustainable bio-based products and wider adoption of circularity.
3. Investing in Infrastructure and Innovation Capacity: Catalysing the Bioeconomy Revolution
Funding for logistics, modular biorefineries, and rural innovation platforms is not merely about providing capital; it’s about creating the very foundation on which a thriving circular bioeconomy can be built. These strategic investments are critical to unlock local potential, drive innovation, and enable the efficient use of resources.
- Logistics Infrastructure: Investment in collection, storage, and transportation systems for biomass and bio-based materials is essential to overcome supply chain bottlenecks and reduce transport costs.
- Modular Biorefineries: Decentralized biorefineries, capable of processing diverse feedstocks and generating a range of products, are vital to achieve circularity and promote rural job creation.
- Rural Innovation Platforms: These platforms provide a space for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovation, bringing together researchers, entrepreneurs, and local communities to develop and scale-up bioeconomy solutions.
Concrete Examples:
- Establish regional bioeconomy hubs for technology transfer (e.g., small-scale modular biorefining units).
- Support the development of local and micro-regional biomass logistics centres.
Why this Matters
Targeted investment in infrastructure and innovation capacity empowers rural communities, drives economic growth, and ensures the sustainable use of resources. It creates ecosystems where new businesses can thrive and existing ones can adapt to circular business models.
4. Education, Training, and Knowledge Networks: Empowering the Workforce of the Future
Expanded Detail: Tailored education programs, integration of Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS), and robust regional networks are not just about workforce readiness; they are about empowering individuals with the skills, knowledge, and networks needed to drive the bioeconomy transition.
How it benefits all the layers of a business:
- By creating new business.
- Enable workforce readiness.
- Enable knowledge transfer, and scalable innovation
Elaboration on Key Strategies
- Tailored Education Programs: Developing curricula that integrate circular economy principles, bio-based technologies, and sustainable business models into vocational training and higher education is vital.
- AKIS Integration: Connecting research, education, and practical farming knowledge through AKIS facilitates innovation uptake and ensures that solutions are relevant to local needs and conditions.
- Regional Networks: Building strong regional networks, bringing together researchers, entrepreneurs, and local communities, promotes knowledge sharing, collaboration, and the development of locally adapted bioeconomy solutions.
Concrete Examples
- Introduce aquaponics modules into agricultural, aquaculture, and environmental science curricula at vocational and university levels.
- Support the creation of regional innovation hubs.
Why this Matters
A skilled workforce and strong knowledge networks are essential to drive innovation, promote sustainable practices, and ensure that the benefits of the bioeconomy are shared across all communities. It empowers the next generation of bioeconomy leaders and ensures that the sector remains competitive and resilient.
All policy briefs are accessible via the BioRural Toolkit: biorural-toolkit.eu and the BioRural Website, biorural.eu.