The activities that deliver sustainable solutions based on biological resources to create added value. These include products, services, science and technologies benefiting sectors ranging from agriculture, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture to value chains based on biomass processing, biomanufacturing and biotechnologies such as in food, health, energy, industry, ecosystem and other services. Biological resources  include genetic resources, as well as primary and secondary biomass, such as by-products and residues, and biogenic carbon captured through innovative technologies. 

EC, 2018, Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions A strategic framework for a Competitive and Sustainable EU Bioeconomy, COM/2025/960 final

Source category: EC Policy Documents

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The bioeconomy covers all sectors and systems that rely on biological resources (animals, plants, micro-organisms and derived biomass, including organic waste), their functions and principles. It includes and interlinks: land and marine ecosystems and the services they provide; all primary production sectors that use and produce biological resources (agriculture, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture); and all economic and industrial sectors that use biological resources and processes to produce food, feed, bio-based products, energy and services.*

* Biomedicines and health biotechnology are excluded.

EC, 2018, Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - A sustainable Bioeconomy for Europe: Strengthening the connection between economy, society and the environment, COM/2018/673 final.

Source category: EC Policy Documents