[Digest] The Bioeconomy in the Agriculture of the Future

The study on “The bioeconomy in the agriculture of the future: its role in promoting farms’ economic sustainability“, commissioned by the AGRI Committee, was presented on 2 June 2026 by Prof Miroslav Hájek, from the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague. His presentation focused on the following topics:

• An overview of the main trends and key drivers shaping the development of the bioeconomy in EU agriculture, such as its integration into the circular economy, the role of innovation and new technologies, the valorisation of agricultural residues, as well as the promotion of the cascading use principle for biomass, whereby energy production represents the final stage in the hierarchy of biomass uses.
• The common factors behind the success stories highlighted in the study, including two examples from the wine and livestock sectors, illustrating how activities such as waste valorisation and biogas production can be effectively integrated into conventional farming practices.
• The empirical findings of the economic model built by the research team.
• The description of a range of policy options aimed at enhancing the uptake of bioeconomy activities and strengthening the integration of farmers into bioeconomy value chains across Europe.

The presentation was followed by comments and questions from the Members. Among other points, the debate touched upon the following elements:

• The importance of strengthening regional value chains, cooperatives and bioeconomy clusters, as well as of creating stable markets and contractual relationships.
• The uneven development of the bioeconomy across the EU and the factors underlying its limited uptake in certain Member States.
• The contribution of specific farming sectors (such as livestock) and agricultural products (such as wool) for boosting bioeconomy engagement in EU farms.
• The need for a stable regulatory framework, sufficient funding, and effective advisory services.