EU Bioeconomy strategy

The EU bioeconomy strategy must be a cornerstone of the EU policies, rooted in sustainability, innovation, and inclusiveness. KSLA urges the EU to empower rural actors, streamline policy, and invest in biomass-based circular solutions that secure Europe’s autonomy, climate goals, and rural vitality.

Strategic Pathways for a Resilient Bioeconomy
• Autonomy and Preparedness: Reduce reliance on imports of energy, food, wood and other critical bio-based materials for EU’s bioeconomy.
• Transition to a Circular Bioeconomy: Replace fossil-based systems with sustainable, circular solutions based on an increased production and use of biomass.
• Jobs and Inclusion: Create rural employment and ensure no one is left behind.

Unlocking Innovation and Investment
• Increase funding for research that enhances resource efficiency, food and energy security.
• Support networks and clusters of companies, researchers, and experts to accelerate innovation.
• Facilitate commercialization of biorefineries that convert crops, residues, and waste into high-value products like biofuels, biochemicals, and green materials.

Forests and Agriculture as Climate Solutions
• Recognition of the substitution effect in the LULUCF regulation.
• Active, sustainable land management with incentives for climate adaptation.
• Full life cycle assessments in climate policy, including bioenergy and material use.
• Rejection of any legislation on the cascading principle instead we are in favor of flexible, systems-based approaches and market-based solutions.

Coherent and Simplified Policy Framework
• RED III, ETD, Taxonomy, State Aid rules, EU Deforestation Regulation, NRL, and LULUCF.
• Voluntary, market-based carbon and nature credit systems.

Empowering Rural Stakeholders
• Investment at farm, industry, and EU levels.
• Education, vocational training, and lifelong learning.
• Targeted support for sustainable practices and circular business models.

Enhancing Energy Security and Bioenergy Deployment
• Setting targets for biogas, drop-in biofuels, and bioenergy production.
• Adapting EU block exemption rules to support biogas tractors and heavy vehicles.
• Supporting liquid biofuel production and modern biorefineries using sustainable forest and crop-based feedstocks.

Policy Coherence and Global Leadership
• Encourage national circular bioeconomy strategies with bottom-up approaches.
• Improve EU impact assessments to reflect cumulative socio-economic and land-use effects.
• Develop circular bioeconomy diplomacy to build strategic partnerships globally.