Food and Drink Industries’ Federation (ETL) welcomes the EU Bioeconomy Strategy published at the end of November, which recognizes the potential of the bioeconomy and provides a broad overview of ways to harness it. However, greater concreteness is needed in the follow-up initiatives to ensure that the strategy’s objectives can be achieved.
Food and drink processing is one of the largest value-adding production sectors within the EU bioeconomy, as highlighted in a document published by the European Commission. Together with primary production, food processing accounts for more than half of the total value of the bioeconomy.
However, the focus of the measures outlined in the Bioeconomy Strategy (A Strategic Framework for a Competitive and Sustainable EU Bioeconomy) now appears to be shifting towards other bioeconomy sectors.
The Commission has set clear objectives for strengthening the bioeconomy: creating lead markets in Europe for bio-based materials and technologies, ensuring the sustainable sourcing of biomass, and making better use of global markets.
The new strategy includes a range of measures to promote the use of renewable biological resources as alternatives to critical raw materials. EU aims to move towards a circular and lower-carbon economy while reducing its dependence on imports of fossil fuels.
Promoting circularity, strengthening self-sufficiency
From the perspective of sustainability in the food sector, nutrient recycling and reducing harmful dependencies, it is positive that the strategy clearly recognizes the potential of biogas and biomethane production, as well as the fertilizers generated as by-products of their production.
The Commission intends to promote investments in biorefineries and biogas plants, which will strengthen local self-sufficiency and support the conversion of biomass into food ingredients, animal feed, biofuels, biochemicals and biomaterials.
Biogas production is also seen to reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers. In addition, the development and use of bio-based packaging materials is to be promoted.
ETL considers it highly positive that the potential of bio-based plastics is recognized as an alternative to conventional plastics, and that the Commission commits to taking them into account in the implementation of the packaging and packaging waste regulation.
Biotechnology to accelerate food innovation
ETL welcomes strong emphasis on innovation and investment in the strategy. To strengthen the EU’s competitiveness and innovation capacity, it is crucial that barriers to the use of biotechnology are now removed within the EU.
Biotechnology is already widely used in food production, and the food industry expects concrete measures to accelerate food innovation.
Faster market entry for new food innovations and the scaling up of production in Europe require streamlined authorization processes for key food-related biotechnologies, opportunities for pilot-scale production, and adequate funding.
In other parts of the world, food innovations based on biotechnology are already seen as strategically important, while the EU risks falling behind.
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