BOOSTING AND MAINSTREAMING THE BIOECONOMY AND TRANSFORMATIVE GOVERNANCE FOR FOOD SYSTEMS AND BIODIVERSITY

Project Information

Presidency Event DK

Grant agreement ID: 101259559

DOI

10.3030/101259559

Project closed

EC signature date 18 August 2025

Start date 28 May 2025

End date 27 January 2026

Funded under

• Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment

Total cost

€ 357 500,00

EU contribution

€ 300 000,00

Coordinated by

KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET
Denmark

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Presidency Event DK (BOOSTING AND MAINSTREAMING THE BIOECONOMY AND TRANSFORMATIVE GOVERNANCE FOR FOOD SYSTEMS AND BIODIVERSITY)

Reporting period: 2025-05-28 to 2026-01-27

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Europe is facing interconnected challenges related to climate change, biodiversity loss and the sustainability of food systems. Addressing these requires not only technological innovation but also better coordinated and integrated policies. The bioeconomy — the sustainable use of biological resources — is a key pathway for Europe’s green transition, but its potential depends on stronger policy coherence, stakeholder engagement and effective governance.

Food systems and biodiversity are closely linked to health, climate and economic development, yet policies often operate in silos. There is therefore a need for more integrated and adaptive governance approaches.

The project supported policy development and stakeholder dialogue related to the EU Bioeconomy Strategy through two high-level European conference days on (1) the bioeconomy and (2) transformative governance.

The objectives were to demonstrate key links between bioeconomy and sustainability, support implementation of the EU bioeconomy strategy, explore integrated governance models, engage diverse stakeholders and promote knowledge exchange.

The project brought together actors from EU institutions, national authorities, research, industry and European partnerships. It created a platform for dialogue, knowledge sharing and co-creation.

The expected impact is to support more coherent policy development by providing evidence-based insights, recommendations and strengthened networks, contributing to sustainable food systems and EU climate and biodiversity goals.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The project organised two high-level European conferences addressing key aspects of the bioeconomy and transformative governance for food systems and biodiversity. These events served as the core activities of the project and brought together policymakers, researchers, industry representatives and other stakeholders from across Europe.

The first conference focused on boosting and mainstreaming the bioeconomy in Europe. It provided a platform for discussing the development and implementation of the upcoming EU Bioeconomy Strategy, with particular attention to circularity, sustainable resource use and cross-sector collaboration. The second conference addressed transformative governance and explored how policies related to food systems, biodiversity, climate and health can be better aligned and implemented in a coordinated way.

The development of both conferences involved close collaboration between national authorities, research institutions and European Commission services. The programmes were co-designed with input from a wide range of stakeholders to ensure relevance, scientific quality and policy alignment. Sessions included keynote presentations, panel discussions and interactive formats that encouraged dialogue and knowledge exchange.

A key achievement of the project was the successful mobilisation of a broad and diverse group of participants, including representatives from European partnerships, Horizon Europe projects and policy networks. This ensured that discussions were informed by the latest research and innovation activities and reflected a wide range of perspectives across sectors and countries.

The conferences generated several important outcomes. A conference output paper on the bioeconomy was produced, summarising key conclusions on the need for a clear strategy, policy coherence, strong communication and sustainable use of biomass. In addition, policy-oriented materials related to transformative governance for food systems and biodiversity were developed, including recommendations and contributions to ongoing EU-level discussions.

The project also contributed to strengthening the evidence base for integrated and systemic approaches to sustainability. Discussions highlighted the importance of linking research, policy and practice, and of adopting whole-systems perspectives that consider interactions across sectors and value chains.

Overall, the main achievements of the project include the successful delivery of two coordinated European conferences, the generation of policy-relevant outputs, and the strengthening of collaboration and knowledge exchange among key actors working on bioeconomy, food systems and biodiversity. These outcomes contribute to advancing the understanding and implementation of more coherent and effective approaches to sustainability in Europe.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The project goes beyond the current state of the art by addressing the bioeconomy and sustainable food systems not only as sectoral challenges, but as systemic transformations requiring integrated governance across policy domains and levels. While existing approaches often focus on technological innovation or single-sector solutions, the project emphasises the importance of aligning policies, stakeholders and knowledge systems to enable coherent and effective implementation.

A key result is the development of policy-relevant insights and recommendations on how to operationalise transformative governance. These include approaches for multi-level coordination, stakeholder co-creation, and the integration of research and innovation into policymaking. The project also highlights the importance of linking bioeconomy strategies with biodiversity, climate and food system objectives, thereby contributing to a more holistic understanding of sustainability transitions.

The conferences strengthened collaboration across European partnerships, research projects and policy actors, helping to bridge gaps between research, policy and practice. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, the project contributed to a shared understanding of challenges and opportunities and supported the emergence of common frameworks and priorities.

The potential impacts of these results include improved policy coherence, more effective implementation of sustainability strategies, and stronger integration of research and innovation into decision-making processes. The results are particularly relevant in the context of ongoing EU policy developments, including the Bioeconomy Strategy, the Vision for Agriculture and Food and related initiatives.