Periodic Reporting for period 3 - BioMonitor (Monitoring the Bioeconomy)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2021-06-01 do 2022-11-30
To understand the development of the bioeconomy and trade-offs caused by different (often conflicting) policies, it is important to monitor its economic, environmental and social impacts; measure the different kinds of biomass used and needed; and develop future scenarios with adjusted conditions.
To achieve this, we need appropriate data and ways to analyze them. Therefore, the overall objective of the BioMonitor project was to establish a statistics and modeling framework for the bioeconomy that would be supported by a stakeholders and be compatible with and implementable in existing systems of statistical and customs offices, laboratories, and industries. The BioMonitor framework enables the quantification of the bioeconomy and its economic, environmental, and social impacts in the EU and its Member States via various indicators.
We successfully built the BioMonitor Model Toolbox that contains newly developed (BioMAT) and enhanced analysis tools (e.g. MAGNET, AGMEMOD, EFI-GTM, and EFISCEN) for bio-based materials and bio-chemicals. In addition, we completed a number of case-studies that provided important inputs into the quantitative models and helped contextualize their results.
The BioMonitor Model Toolbox was enhanced based on the identified gaps in development needs for bioeconomy modeling and the BioMonitor Toolbox Design via newly developed and enhanced analysis tools for bio-based materials and bio-chemicals. Some results related to monitoring of the EU bioeconomy have been stored at the JRC-managed DataM platform and are updated based on data availability.
A BioMonitor Reference Scenario for the EU bioeconomy was developed and analyzed. In this respect, the objective was to develop narratives for the future development of the bioeconomy in Europe. We looked at three scenarios i) Go-it-alone (EU pursuing its vision of a sustainable bioeconomy); ii) Hand-in-Hand (EU not acting alone but instead many of the initiatives of the Go-It-Alone scenario are implemented globally); iii) BioEcoResilience (explores the resilience of, and opportunities afforded to, the bioeconomy resulting from a greener world order not only considering material uses of biomass but also considering larger use of biomass for energy applications).
We conducted a comparative analysis of the conducted case studies to identify common and diverging challenges encountered when attempting to monitor the bioeconomy. We produced case study factsheets which, in an accessible form, presents the main finding of each study. We also conducted a Delphi study among experts to help investigate the most common data gaps and needs. The results were used to formulate a consensus on data collection strategies and priorities for the bioeconomy.
To generate a stronger impact, the project results have been effectively disseminated during the whole project’s duration across Europe and in the relevant professional communities. The dissemination activities included (but were not limited to):
- Production of information materials
- Communication with wide audience online and via social media
- Organization of stakeholder events and activities
First, we established input- and output-based methodologies to quantify the size of bioeconomies of individual EU member states (and the EU as a whole). We provided empirical estimates of their sizes using data from publicly available sources. The results can be viewed in the JRC DataM in the form of easy-to-use dashboards.
Second, we have developed a new analytical framework to assess the development and dynamics of bioeconomies in the EU using data provided by Eurostat. An advantage of our framework is that it can take any number of well-defined quantitative bioeconomy indicators. The results are presented in a consistent form, and policymakers can use them to assess the direction of development of the bioeconomy in individual EU Member States.
Third, we have developed a brand new economic model to analyze bio-based materials in the EU (BioMAT). In addition to that, we have advanced the existing (economic) models (e.g. MAGNET, EFI_GMT) both in the direction of splitting the most important sectors and using newer data. These activities will prepare to make these models ready for future analyses in the field of bioeconomy.
Fourth, we have conducted a set of diverse case studies in various aspects of the bioeconomy (e.g. novel products, data collection methodology), which provide unique and new information that helps to portray a better picture of the EU bioeconomy.
Last but not least, we have engaged diverse bioeconomy stakeholders (e.g. policymakers, researchers, and businesses) to raise their awareness about the new methodologies to monitor and measure the EU bioeconomy. Our results have served as an important input for the discussions at the national level in EU Member States that develop their bioeconomy strategies and would like to manage the development of their bioeconomies more efficiently.