Visit the Rural Bioeconomy Portal

If you're interested in the bioeconomy you can find a wealth of information on the European Network for Rural Development's (ENRD) Rural Bioeconomy Portal. ​

DG Research and Innovation, European Commission explain the bioeconomy as comprising "those parts of the economy that use renewable biological resources from land and sea – such as crops, forests, fish, animals and micro-organisms – to produce food, materials and energy”.

The ENRD's online portal focuses on the challenges and opportunities for bioeconomy in rural areas. 

You'll be able to find links to lots of relevant information including the Bioeconomy edition of the EAFRD Projects Brochure which shows how the mainstreaming of the bioeconomy is being accelerated by Rural Development Programmes (RDPs) around Europe. The brochure features 12 projects that highlight how RDPs are helping rural communities seize the opportunities offered by the bioeconomy through the production of sustainable food and feed, innovative bio-based products, renewable energy, environmentally sustainable growth and awareness raising.

You can also find information from the European event 'Bioeconomy: Seizing the opportunity for rural Europe' which was held in Brussels earlier this month.

And two videos shows how the bioeconomy works in 'real life'. De Laarhoeve (NL) processes agricultural 'waste' from local farmers to turn it into new delicious products to be sold by the farmers themselves. In Alvesta (SE), 12 farmers got together to set up a biogas unit that processes manure and community waste into biofuel. 

You can also find project examples, briefings and much more on the Rural Bioeconomy Portal.