Presidency events – Boosting and mainstreaming the bioeconomy and the transformative governance of the green transition for food systems and biodiversity

Denmark will take on the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2025. The foreseen Presidency events will be an opportunity to announce the next steps for the EU Bioeconomy Strategy and the EU’s Food2030 initiative, and for mainstreaming the bioeconomy concept across different EU policies and instruments.

This action will cover the organisation by the Danish Presidency of two conferences with the following titles: “Boosting and mainstreaming the bioeconomy - Science and governance for the green transition” and “Transformative governance for food systems and biodiversity”. The European Commission will support the organisation of the events in cooperation with the entity designated by the Danish Presidency.

Conference: Boosting and mainstreaming the bioeconomy - Science and governance for the green transition

Expected outcome: This conference is expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:

• an opportunity is provided to take stock of the work under the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, EU R&I Framework Programmes (including Partnerships, Missions, and Joint Undertakings) and the Food2030 initiative;
• recent developments, including a planned update of the Bioeconomy Strategy, are discussed.

Scope: The conference should address all the following activities:

• provide exchanges on the EU’s strategic policies and on relevant insights from and for science, innovation and practice, at Member State and EU level.
• provide a space for the presentation of scientific achievements across disciplines, and for exchange of ideas and innovative solutions including bio-based solutions.
• further strengthen the science policy interface for improved and coherent governance and to advance circularity and a sustainable bioeconomy.

The event will bring together European Commission services, Member States, Members of the European Parliament and other EU Institutions, stakeholders, experts and interested citizens, including youth representatives, from across Europe.

Conference: Transformative governance for food systems and biodiversity

Expected outcome: This conference is expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:

• the role of R&I in the existing and possible future governance for food systems and biodiversity is explored and discussed among a diverse range of stakeholders.
• a just, fair and inclusive green transition is supported, while at the same time contributing to achieve the climate targets.

Scope: The conference should address all the following activities:

• highlight the strong links between the transition towards healthy and sustainable food systems, and the transition to a sustainable circular bioeconomy,
• promote stakeholder collaboration and new partnerships across various disciplines and sectors at local, national and European levels,
• exchange results and good practices between ongoing Horizon projects, Missions and partnerships working on food systems and biodiversity,
• increase awareness and engagement from the public, media and other stakeholders about the importance of the transformative governance for the food system and biodiversity for a greener future.

The event will bring together all actors of the food system, such as European and national policymakers from different levels, farmers, academia, SMEs, NGOs, youth representatives, consumers and the private sector, collaborating on advancing policy and R&I on agriculture, food systems and biodiversity for a fair and sustainable future.

Specific conditions:

The starting date of the grant awarded under this action may be as of the submission date of the application.

Subcontracting is not restricted to a limited part of this action.

The evaluation committee will be composed fully by representatives of EU institutions.