Bioeconomy and Climate Action in Rural Areas

Rural Bioeconomy is one of the sub-themes of the broader ENRD thematic work on 'Greening the Rural Economy'.

A Thematic Group (TG) has been working on this topic from September 2018 to July 2020.

From July 2018 to July 2019 the group focused on 'Mainstreaming the Bioeconomy'. The TG explored the different elements of environmentally sustainable rural value chains within the bioeconomy, how these can promote jobs, growth and inclusion in rural areas, and how they can be promoted, particularly through the use of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).

From July 2019 to July 2020 the TG focused on the topic of 'Bioeconomy and Climate Action in rural areas'. The TG explored the types of activity within rural bioeconomy value chains that provide the most significant climate benefits. It identified how such activities can be supported now and in the future, through relevant interventions under the post-2020 CAP Strategic Plans.

The TG contributes to the EU Circular Bioeconomy Strategy and Action Plan by enabling exchange on sustainable ways of deploying bioeconomy in rural areas and by exploring how the Rural Development Programmes (RDPs) and other financing instruments can be best used to support this. The TG also aims at promoting synergies between new bioeconomy strategies at national and regional levels, and the CAP priorities on climate.

Information on Thematic Group meetings and related thematic outputs will be uploaded here on a regular basis.

Visit the ENRD Rural Bioeconomy Portal and discover relevant policies and inspiring projects across Europe!