From fossil resources to sustainability
To conserve the natural foundations of life for humans, animals and plants, we must reduce the exploitation of these resources to a level that is ecologically sustainable.
We are also witnessing a progressive transition away from an industry dependent on fossil resources towards a more bio-based economy largely geared to raw materials grown in fields and forests. The material use of biomass as part of a bio-based economy is gaining importance along with the use of biomass as an energy source.
In many respects, a high standard of living is still hard to imagine without fossil raw materials, as they are not only an energy source but also the basis for many chemically manufactured products such as plastics, detergents, lubricants, medicinal products, building materials, cosmetics and textiles. A secure supply of raw materials is indispensable for all industry and business sectors. The scarcer oil, shale gas and coal become, however, the more expensive they tend to become as well. Moreover, the use of fossil raw materials is responsible for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions and thus for ongoing climate change. The world’s population will grow from over eight billion today to an estimated ten billion by 2050, which will increase the demand for raw materials even further.
The bio-based economy – key to changing industry and society
In view of these global developments, the was adopted in 2020 in order to maintain Germany’s status as a leading industrial nation in the long term and to preserve the environment. This strategy marks a sea change towards a sustainable bioeconomy. The bioeconomy encompasses the production, development and use of biological resources, processes and systems to provide all economic sectors with products, processes and services. These include fisheries, agriculture, forestry, food production and the use of renewable resources. The bioeconomy has the potential to produce new products and processes that contribute to safeguarding resources and generating prosperity.
The National Bioeconomy Strategy aims to promote the necessary transition in industry and society toward a more sustainable and more bio-based economy. One important principle is to arrive at a sustainable and circular economy based on biogenic resources.
Specific measures will be taken to safeguard sustainable production, provide biogenic resources, build and develop bioeconomic value chains and networks, develop tools for marketing and establishing bio-based products, processes and services, and harness digitalisation for the bioeconomy within the circular system.
Research is key to recognising and tapping the potential of the bioeconomy.
Federal German government and EU research strategies
The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) supports the research and development of biomass generation and use as part of the Support Scheme for Renewable Resources via the Agency for Renewable Resources (FNR), which acts as the project executing agency. The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture had provided funding worth over 1.5 billion euros to more than 5,000 projects by November 2024 under the support scheme, which has in the meantime been renamed the “Sustainable Renewable Resources” funding programme. These projects focus on innovative cultivation systems, biorefinery strategies, cascading uses, enhanced productivity of arable land and breeding of specific crops. The goal is to promote approaches for sustainable agriculture and bioeconomy and to make the use of natural resources more efficient. The BMEL regularly announces new research focus areas, for which research institutions, companies and associations can submit project proposals.
The European Commission also considers the market for bio-based products to be one of six particularly promising markets of the future. Currently, the EU is funding basic and applied bioeconomy research to the tune of 3.85 billion euros under the EU Horizon 2020 framework programme. For the period from 2021 to 2027, a further 10 billion euros are earmarked to fund research on food and natural resources under the new EU “Horizon Europe” research framework programme. For the period from 2021 to 2027, the “Horizon Europe” basic and applied research programme is providing approximately 8.9 billion euros in funding to projects in cluster 6 on “Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment”. This cluster aims to streamline ecological, social and economic objectives in order to steer the EU’s economic activities towards sustainability.
Added value in the regions
The bio-based economy also offers opportunities for broadening the spectrum of cultivated crop species, as the range of industrial crops is much wider than the spectrum of the major food and forage crops. If renewable raw materials are produced, processed and consumed in the region where they are cultivated, transportation distances are kept short and new jobs are created in the regions. A bio-based economy thus offers new prospects for the future – especially for rural areas in Germany.
