New strategy aims to make bioeconomy key to rural regeneration

The bioeconomy is “vital to Ireland”, helping us to “use our natural resources in a better, more sustainable way”, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has told a major conference.

The Global Bioeconomy Summit is currently taking place in Dublin.

The Taoiseach was speaking at the event this morning (Wednesday, October 21) as Ireland’s first national bioeconomy strategy is being launched.

The strategy – BioScale 2030 – sets out a pathway to turn research and renewable biological resources into sustainable businesses, new markets and regional opportunities.

Innovation

Speaking this morning about bioeconomy development, Micheál Martin said: “It creates jobs, encourages innovation, and helps to reduce waste and dependence on fossil fuels.

“It’s very clear to us that the bioeconomy is no longer an abstract concept or niche idea; but rather a mainstream, real economic, social and environmental opportunity, and imperative for us all.

“Importantly, in a world where for some it can seem attractive or easier to renege on climate change commitments, we urgently need such positive examples of the opportunity that arises from climate action.”

The Taoiseach said bioeconomy development “offers hope, as well as practical opportunity” to replace fossil fuels with more sustainable renewable biological resources.

“The need to move away from a fossil fuel economy could not be more obvious,” he said.

“This summer alone we witnessed record-breaking heatwaves, drought, wildfires and excess deaths across Europe.

“Our citizens and economies are also suffering from hugely inflated energy prices, exacerbated by our dependence on fossil fuels.”

He said the security and availability of fossil fuels is now in question in the light of prolonged conflicts, involving oil and gas-producing nations.

“We now witness regular periodic crises, emanating from the use of fossil fuels,” the Taoiseach said.

“Energy security, economic resilience and the climate crisis are all demanding a shift towards smarter, more sustainable use of our resources, and away from fossil fuel use.

“Bioeconomy development will help us to achieve all of these objectives.”

Bioeconomy strategy

The new strategy identifies five strategic objectives that will create the conditions necessary for scaling Ireland’s bioeconomy.

These objectives focus on infrastructure and investment, market development, skills and innovation, climate action and circularity, and governance.

Together, they are intended to move bioeconomy activity beyond research and demonstration projects towards wider commercial deployment and long-term economic impact.

The strategy identifies five priority sectors where Ireland has strong resource advantages, existing capabilities and significant potential for sustainable growth.

These sectors are viewed as the main pathways through which the bioeconomy can deliver economic, environmental and social benefits.

These include the agri-bioeconomy and circular nutrients sector, and the bio-based construction sector.

This focuses on creating greater value from agricultural biomass, residues and by-products through activities such as green biorefining, nutrient recovery, biomethane production and the development of bio-based fertilisers.

The bio-based construction sector explores opportunities to use forestry and crop biomass in lower-carbon construction materials, supporting carbon storage, reducing emissions and creating new supply chains across agriculture, forestry and construction.

Rural regeneration

The strategy outlines a vision that by 2030, Ireland’s bioeconomy will be a “core driver of economic prosperity, climate action, and rural regeneration”.

The strategy outlines that the development of Ireland’s bioeconomy will be translated from its vision and mission into “coordinated action by alignment with key guiding principles” – one of these being ‘food first’ – that food and feed production remain priorities for biomass use.

“Bioeconomy development must support the