A statement on the EU Commission's bioeconomy strategy
Agora welcomes the European Commission’s bioeconomy strategy as an important step towards developing bio-based materials and new business opportunities for the agriculture, forestry and industry sectors. To unlock the bioeconomy’s full potential, a coordinated approach to the supply and demand of scarce biomass and a clear plan to shift its use away from energy are essential.
Berlin and Brussels, 27 November 2025. Today, the European Commission published its bioeconomy strategy, outlining its 2040 vision and planned actions for achieving a wide deployment of sustainable bio-based materials and technologies in sectors such as construction and chemicals.
Émeline Spire, Co-Director Europe, Agora Energiewende, said:
“Developing Europe’s bioeconomy can drive innovation in sectors like bio-based plastics and support Europe’s industrial competitiveness, while reducing dependence on fossil fuel imports. The Commission’s strategy sets a promising direction as it outlines plans to tackle barriers, mobilise investments and use lead markets to scale the deployment of bio-based products and technologies. Prompt implementation of the proposed measures like those under the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) and the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is crucial to drive progress.
The strategy, however, lacks a clear plan to gradually drive biomass use away from energy where alternatives exist. Electrification should be the priority for sectors like road transport and space and process heat. Sustainable biofuels should be steered towards supporting the transition in shipping and aviation until alternative solutions like e-kerosene and ammonia are ready. To enable a resource-efficient and successful bioeconomy in the long term, the EU needs a comprehensive overview of the supply and demand of biomass across all sectors as a basis for future impact assessments and scenarios.”
Dr. Christine Chemnitz, Co-Director of Agora Agriculture, said:
“The bioeconomy strategy sets a clear course: deploying bio-based materials as alternatives to fossil-based construction products, plastics and chemicals can create economic opportunities for farmers, forest owners and rural entrepreneurs.
The efficient use of limited biomass is of major importance both for climate and biodiversity. However, the strategy overlooks the potential of food innovation in supporting less land-intensive consumption, especially through diets lower in animal products. Such a shift in consumption would substantially contribute to the development of a bioeconomy that stays within ecological limits and ensures food security.
To create resilient agricultural and forestry systems, sustainable biomass production must become economically viable for farmers and forest owners. The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) funding can contribute to this if the budget is earmarked for agri-environmental measures. This includes targeted support for scalable solutions such as paludiculture on rewetted peatlands and fast-growing wood from agroforestry. A sustainable food system and bioeconomy can thrive together when land is used efficiently and the demand for food, feed and other biomass is more sustainable than it is today.”
