The Role of Biomass in a Sustainable Bioeconomy

Biomass plays a vital role in our economy – as food and animal feed, and as a key input for producing pharmaceuticals, plastics, chemicals, building materials, energy, and more.

But at the same time, the urgency of protecting and restoring ecosystems has never been greater. The twin climate and biodiversity crises demand that we carefully define the right role for sustainably sourced biomass in the European bioeconomy. Getting this right is essential to achieving the EU’s climate and nature goals.

In short:

A thriving bioeconomy depends on two things: access to sustainable biomass and healthy ecosystems. While opportunities lie in boosting crop productivity and improving production technologies, these must not come at the cost of biodiversity, water security, or natural carbon sinks.

There is also significant potential in circularity – reducing waste and transforming residual streams into valuable resources.

However, today’s EU policies and strategies face two fundamental uncertainties:

1. How much new, sustainable biomass can be unlocked through emerging technologies and practices – and what policies are needed to support this?
2. How should we prioritise limited sustainable biomass to maximise its climate, biodiversity, and societal benefits?