SCAR NEWS

MAIN CONCLUSIONS OF THE WORKSHOP OF PARIS (February 23/24th of 2017)

The Bioeconomy strategic working group met in Paris, with the goal to reflect on the current bioeconomy strategy and advice for setting up a European bioeconomy strategy. This advice will be given in a policy letter, which is now under construction.

1° DEFINITION OF THE BIOECONOMY
The definitions of the bioeconomy vary in the different Member states. In relation to the EU bioeconomy strategy and regarding the discussions of the group importance was given to include ecosystem services into the definition and scope of the national and the EU Bioeconomy Strategies.
In order to support branding, participants advised that a common term (bioeconomy) should be used throughout all Member states and the EU.
Sustainability has to be a main goal of any strategy and condition for implementation. It could be included into the titles of strategies to be clear and visible regarding the communication.

2° LINK TO OTHER POLICIES
It is important to address the notion of circularity also within the bioeconomy.
The circular economy strategy is a strategy addressing the important issue of resource efficiency whereas the bioeconomy is addressing the equally important issue of the feedstock base.
Another important link is to address the Sustainable Development Goals.

3° GOVERNANCE AND COORDINATION
The EU strategy was an important impetus for many countries to develop their own strategies, most of which are now also in the process of reviewing/revising their strategies or finding the right approach to monitor the progress of the bioeconomy.

4° PRESENTATION BY DG R&I OF THE BIOECONOMY REVIEW PROCESS
The Bioeconomy review is a retrospective exercise. DG R&I intends to publish the result as a staff working document at the November 2017 Bioeconomy Stakeholder Conference. An expert group with 12 members has been set up and met for the first time on December 1st 2016 in Brussels.