News

• The "Strategic Framework for a Competitive and Sustainable EU Bioeconomy by 2040" is the focus of the latest session of the CAP Network, which aims to explain to the agricultural sector the new European framework for bioeconomy and the state support programs.

• The bioeconomy is becoming the central axis of the industrial production system in Europe and a key element in the agricultural, forestry, livestock and fishing sectors.

The bioeconomy is consolidating its position as a key pillar for the future of the agricultural sector and the entire European production system. Following this approach, which promotes the sustainable use of biological resources and the generation of added value from them, the CAP Network held the conference “Bioeconomy: Success Stories and Future Perspectives” on May 6th at the headquarters of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food ( MAPA ). The conference focused on analyzing its practical application, its policy implications, and the opportunities it offers for farmers, livestock breeders, foresters, and the agricultural sector as a whole.

The meeting served to convey to the sector the main keys of the new “Strategic Framework for a competitive and sustainable EU bioeconomy by 2040” , approved by the European Commission in November 2025, as well as to show concrete experiences that are already applying this model in Spain.

New European framework

During the conference, it became clear that the bioeconomy has moved beyond being an emerging concept to become a structural pillar of European economic policy . The new strategic framework proposes a profound transformation based on replacing fossil fuels with renewable biological resources, promoting biotechnology, and creating new value chains around biomass.

This approach responds to a context marked by the need to strengthen food security, reduce dependence on external raw materials, and advance the ecological transition and reindustrialization of the European Union. In this scenario, the agricultural, forestry, and fisheries sector acquires a central role not only as a provider of resources but also as a key player in innovation and the generation of added value.

Marco in Spain

In line with this European framework , the MAPA has stressed the importance of placing the primary sector at the heart of the bioeconomy, guaranteeing its participation in innovation processes and its access to adequate financing.

The bioeconomy is presented as an opportunity for:

• diversifying income in agricultural holdings

• improve the competitiveness of the sector

• reduce external dependencies on strategic inputs

• to promote more sustainable and resilient production models

Furthermore, the need to complement the instruments of the Common Agricultural Policy ( CAP ) with new financial tools and European programs has been highlighted , which will accelerate the deployment of innovative solutions.

Public governance and support tools

The event also provided an opportunity to learn about the various lines of work and programs being promoted by public administrations, aimed at supporting the bioeconomy in Spain and Europe.

At the European level, the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking ( CBE JU ) was presented , a public-private initiative that finances research, innovation and demonstration projects to accelerate the development of bio-based solutions and their arrival on the market.

At the national level, initiatives such as the StartBEC program, promoted by the MAPA, aimed at supporting and accelerating innovative projects in bioeconomy, were presented, as well as the financing lines of the Biodiversity Foundation , intended to support the development of pilot projects and the scaling up of sustainable solutions.

Strategic frameworks such as the Spanish Forestry Strategy were also highlighted.   and the   Spanish Forestry Plan , which reinforces the role of the forestry sector in promoting the bioeconomy and in the sustainable valorization of natural resources.

Success stories in bioeconomy

One of the central focuses of the meeting has been the presentation of real cases that demonstrate how the bioeconomy is already being applied in different areas of the sector.

In the two project panels presented, initiatives such as GCM Citrus , Fertiberia , Entomo Agroindustrial , GO FOTOPUR , SMALLOPS , LIFE EU Green Ammonia , and GO BIVALVOS were showcased.   and   BIHOX , which address topics aligned with the priorities of the European framework, such as new genomic techniques, bio-inputs, valorization of by-products, bioenergy or resource efficiency.

These projects reflect the potential of the bioeconomy to generate innovative solutions applicable to agriculture, livestock farming, the agri-food industry and waste management, contributing to the sustainability and competitiveness of the sector.

Available on YouTube

The full recording of the day will be available soon on the YouTube channel of the   Red PAC , where all the interventions and content presented during the event can be consulted.