"- The conference titled ""The European Bioeconomy Scene 2019"" addressed in particular the importance of aligning
all stakeholders around the creation of new markets and boosting investments in the bioeconomy, to deliver jobs and
inclusive, sustainable economic growth. The organisation of such a conference built on efforts undertaken in this
direction by the European Commission and the Finnish Presidency of the Council of the EU. The conference took
place in July 2019 in Helsinki, Finland.
- This conference helped to implement important EU policies and initiatives especially the EU Bioeconomy Strategy,
but also the Circular Economy Package. The conference served as an important input to the future orientation of the
European Bioeconomy Strategy. The conference was designed and accomplished in close cooperation with the European
Commission and the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (in cooperation with the Ministry of Economic
Affairs and Employment and the Ministry of the Environment as well as the Prime Minister’s Office).
- In support of the implementation of the Strategy ""Innovating for Sustainable Growth: a Bioeconomy for Europe"", a
Bioeconomy Stakeholders' Conference provided opportunities for public awareness raising and for an informed
dialogue on the progress of the bioeconomy, involving researchers, stakeholders, policy makers and the civil society at
large across the whole bioeconomy value chain.
The European Bioeconomy Scene 2019 conference, from 8–10 July in Helsinki, was one of the major events
at the beginning of the Finnish Presidency. The high-level conference brought together around 330
participants representing policymakers, research institutions, academia, businesses and civil society from all
over Europe to exchange knowledge, discuss new actions and coordinate activities. The programme included
expert speeches and panel discussions on the first conference day and, excursions to some of the most
interesting Finnish bioeconomy sites on the second day.
Major topics of the conference were the role of bioeconomy strategies in the transition to a sustainable and
circular economy, ways of unlocking the potential of the sector, and adding value to bio-based value chains
with special focus on the farming sector and the so-called blue bioeconomy. The programme endorsed social
sustainability as the cross-cutting theme of the conference."
