Work Package 2
WP2 has summarised existing information on products, processes, actors and activities in the field of the bioeconomy and included three consecutive works steps. The first work step identified meaningful information from the perspective of consumers, businesses and public procurement officials on existing bioeconomy products and processes, the personal benefits for consumers and their social, environmental and economic impacts in a database framed from an end-user perspective. Therefore, a number of products and their underlying processes have been selected (e.g. clothing, paints, bottles, biofuels). The second and third work steps identified existing information in an overview of actors, bioeconomy strategies at national and regional levels and network activities and their impacts on public debate and participative governance in the bioeconomy domain.
Work Package 3
BioSTEP partners have delivered two reports, based on six case studies examining participative governance in bioeconomy strategies. Two case studies (D3.1) focus on national bioeconomy strategies in Finland and Germany. The remaining four case studies (D3.2) focus on the regions of the Biobased Delta (the Netherlands), Saxony-Anhalt (Germany), the Veneto (Italy) and Scotland (United Kingdom). D3.1 and D3.2 examine how stakeholder organisations and citizens have participated in the design, implementation and review of national and regional bioeconomy strategies, and highlight common/diverse approaches to strategy development, as well as challenges and opportunities. A third report (D3.3) developed good practice guidelines based on the national and regional case studies.
Work Package 4
In fulfilment of WP4 and as a basis for BioSTEP's policy workshops, a stakeholder database with relevant contacts was produced and a web-based stakeholder consultation was carried out. The findings of the consultation revealed that some of the strongest perceived benefits of the bioeconomy are managing resources sustainably and its support for investment in new infrastructures, knowledge, innovation and skills. Strongest stakeholder agreement on challenges of the bioeconomy was indicated with respect to sustainability assurance, policy coherence, appropriate financing, and participative dialogue with the public and bioeconomy stakeholders. These aspects were taken up in three policy workshops which BioSTEP organised at European, national and regional level. The outcomes of these workshops fed into a policy paper which aimed to inform the review and update of the EU Bioeconomy Strategy.
Work Package 5
The objective of WP5 was to inform, but also to actively involve stakeholders in a dialogue process on the prospects, benefits and challenges of a bio-based economy. The basis for this is a coherent and clear communication strategy that tailors the right information to the right audience in the right manner. To achieve this, BioSTEP's Public Engagement and Knowledge Sharing Strategy identifies distinct target groups, communication tools as well as channels and methods for engagement. BioSTEP's exhibition "Bioeconmy in Everyday Life" was organised in four locations across Europe to raise awareness of the bioeconomy and involve citizens in a dialogue about its potential benefits and challenges.
Work Package 6
An analysis of bioeconomy-related sectors in the Veneto region of Italy and the Stara Zagora region of Bulgaria has been conducted by collecting statistical, economic and technological information concerning the sectors involved in the development of bioeconomy-related supply chains. The focus has been put on those enterprises having at least one product or a line of products being certified as “organic” by third party certification bodies. On this basis, BioSTEP designed and implemented so-called 'living labs' in the two regions which brought together a range of stakeholders who jointly developed strategies for strengthened bioeconomy sector that builds on regional biomass streams.
