Presidency event - Advancing the bioeconomy strategy for sustainable food and bio-based systems

Research and innovation (R&I) are key enablers for the deployment of the bioeconomy and for developing sustainable food and biobased systems.

Ireland will take on the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2026. The foreseen Presidency event will be an opportunity to build on the new EU Bioeconomy Strategy that is expected to be published by the end of 2025, and the EU’s Food2030 initiative, for advancing the bioeconomy across different EU policies and instruments, and for increasing private and public investment.

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

• The bioeconomy as a vehicle to address the challenges that the EU faces today, including climate change, fossil-fuel dependency and food security.
• The conference provides an opportunity to take stock of the new EU bioeconomy strategy, Food2030 initiative and Horizon Europe (including Horizon Europe Partnerships, Missions, and Joint Undertakings) and other bioeconomy-related EU policies. It will provide exchange on the EU’s strategic challenges and on insights from science, innovation and practice, at Member State and EU level.

Scope: the conference should address all of the following activities:

• provide a space for the presentation of scientific achievements, real-world examples of the bioeconomy in action (such as those funded by the Circular Biobased Europe Joint Undertaking) and for exchange of practical ideas and innovative solutions;
• highlight the role of the bioeconomy for vibrant rural, coastal and urban areas, for mobilising primary producers in climate action and in the green transition, and for creating and maintaining jobs, growth, for primary producers, landowners, small and medium sized enterprises, and other rural actors, including through new value-added chains and business models. Possible synergies with the EU Clean Industrial Deal, the Agri-Fish and COMPET Council, the UN FAO, IACGB and the Global Bioeconomy Summit, the EU High Level Policy Forum on the Bioeconomy and the Standing Committee for Agricultural Research (SCAR) could be explored.

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

The event will take place in Dublin during the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The European Commission will support the organisation of the event in cooperation with the entity designated by the Irish Presidency.

This grant will be awarded without a call for proposals according to Article 198(e) of the Financial Regulation and Article 24(3)(b) of the Horizon Europe Regulation to the legal entity identified below.

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.