EIT Food supports a comprehensive Bioeconomy Strategy 

We await the forthcoming EU Bioeconomy Strategy with interest, whose scope was previously outlined in the call for evidence, 'Towards a Circular, Regenerative and Competitive Bioeconomy,' and reflected in the outcome of the consultation reporting stakeholder inputs. Notably, this consultation gathered 362 responses, among which 69% (249 respondents) identified advancements in biotechnology and agriculture—particularly related to food production and food systems—as key priorities for bioeconomy and innovation.

Bioeconomy encompasses the sustainable production and use of renewable biological resources from agriculture, forestry, and other sectors, converting them into food, bio-based products, materials, and energy. It is a key pillar in the EU’s transition towards a circular, regenerative economy that supports environmental sustainability while bolstering economic growth.

The following examples illustrate how bioeconomy, underpinned by biotechnology innovation, fosters transformation across food production, processing, packaging, and consumption—building a more sustainable, resilient, and competitive European agrifood sector:

1. Biomanufacturing and fermentation technologies: use of microbes and enzymes to produce alternative proteins, bio-based food ingredients, and biochemicals, reducing reliance on fossil feedstocks and traditional agriculture inputs (as witnessed by EIT Food startups and projects such as Holloid, Redefine Meat, Bon Vivant, Green Spot Technologies,Onego Bio, Kidemis, PfxBiotech, Change Bio, Koppie, Biodairy Labs).
2. Precision agriculture enabled by biotech and digital tools: AI-driven plant stress detection, genomic tools for crop improvement, and microbiome manipulation that increase yield efficiency, reduce agrochemical use, and promote regenerative farming practices, thereby transforming food production systems (as witnessed by EIT Food startups and projects such as farmAlr and Beta Bugs, Agrosap, EIT Food Test Farms program, FA Bio (biofungicides), Resurrect Bio (AI disease resistance), Hudson River Biotechnology (CRISPR traits), CroBio (soil amendments), EIT Food Accelerator Network 2025 cohort).
3. Microbial biomass and enzyme production for food ingredients: Innovating functional ingredients, such as novel proteins and bioactive compounds from fermentation, providing healthier and more sustainable food options (as witnessed by EIT Food startups and projects such as Prozymi, Biolabs, AgroGrIN Tech, Esencia Foods, Primogene, Change Bio).
4. Bio-based packaging and materials: biodegradable, bio-based materials replacing plastics and contributing to circular food packaging solutions aligned with the Circular Economy Action Plan (as witnessed by EIT Food startups and projects such as Biomyc, Biopols, Pack2Earth, AgriFoodX, and Relicta).

Bioeconomy is therefore already a major contributor to the EU’s gross domestic product and employment, with significant growth potential in emerging sectors such as the agrifood biotechnologies. By bridging research innovations with market uptake, the bioeconomy strategy can significantly advance food innovation alongside new and complementary food and bio-based products, while enabling consumers to make informed and responsible choices.

We therefore call for the EU Commission Services to:

1. Take advantage of the objectives of the Life Sciences Strategy, the Startups and Scaleup Strategy, and of the Vision for Agriculture and Food goals.

2. Finalise a bold, comprehensive, and forward-looking Bioeconomy Strategy that can firmly position the EU in the rapidly expanding international market for agri-food innovation and biotech sectors.

This leadership and commitment will unlock new economic opportunities, foster innovation, and ensure Europe’s strategic autonomy.