R&I Days “Role of bioeconomy in the EU post-COVID recovery”

EATiP was invited to this closed virtual webinar in order to outline the potential of the bioeconomy for the post-COVID rural, coastal and urban recovery. Jointly, we looked into ways, ideas and plans on how to most effectively deploy concrete bioeconomy actions and solutions for a speedy recovery across Europe. This session focused on EU Member States and their efforts to recover, repair and emerge stronger from the crisis, while accelerating the green transition. Future discussions and events on this topic will follow in the months to come.

As a reaction, EATiP submitted a note on the position of aquaculture in the recovery.

EC reports on Sustainable Food Systems

A Scientific Opinion was published by the Scientific Advice Mechanism (SAM) on “Towards a sustainable food system”, based on evidence and reviews provided by the Scientific Advice for Policy by European Academies (SAPEA) Working Group. A step-wise policy transition and fully integrated approach is suggested to deliver an inclusive, ‘just’ and timely transition to an EU sustainable food system, in line with the forthcoming Farm to Fork Strategy.

Technological innovations in aquaculture can empower the food systems to evolve sustainably, such as precision farming, RAS, algae or insect based foodstuffs, and new processing technologies to increase shelf-life. Overall, research needs to contribute to the promotion of a sustainable intensification, combining an increased efficiency with decreased environmental burden, to the reuse and recycling of food waste, to improve the resilience of food systems towards climate change, and to improved monitoring. Social sciences can provide insights in the various components of food systems and their dynamics in relation to sustainability objectives.

 

Both reports take an integrated systems-based approach.

Scientific opinion on Sustainable food system

SAPEA evidence report on Sustainable Food Systems

EATiP as European Bioeoconomy Stakeholder

The European Commission organized its last European Bioeconomy  Stakeholder Panel in Brussels, on March 4. Because the bioeconomy is made up of many different sectors, it is difficult for one single expert or organisation to have a complete overview. The Bioeconomy Stakeholders Panel meets that challenge by bringing together, in one group, people with different stakeholder perspectives. EATiP is the single representative of the aquaculture sector. As its primary goal, the Panel supports EU’s Bioeconomy Strategy. The Panel’s top three commitments for each sector have been related to stakeholder engagement, regional actions and education in the bioeconomy.

EATiP held a presentation on “Partnering aquaculture stakeholder groups and regions to support growth, sustainability and innovation (see attached).

The picture shows the attending Stakeholder Panel Members during the Brussels meeting.

EATiP included in SCAR-FISH

SCAR-FISH is one of the Strategic Working Groups of the Standing Committee on Agriculture Research established by the European Commission as a source of scientific advice.  It consists of representatives from research organisations and institutions in different countries of the European Research Area. In 2018, they published a comprehensive report on Fish Welfare.  On February 19, Alexandra Neyts presented EATiP and the opportunities for joint actions in order to strengthen aquaculture in the European bioeconomy.  EATiP was granted the status of observer in SCAR-FISH and will assist in its meetings to represent the opinion of the European aquaculture sector.

Newsletter of the 9th Bioeconomy Stakeholders Panel meeting

The 9th Bioeconomy Stakeholders Panel meeting was held in Brussels on 23 February 2018.  It was organized by the Unit F.1. Bioeconomy Strategy, DG Research and Innovation of the European Commission.  An update of the 2012 Bioeconomy Strategy is a Commission wide policy priority for 2018, with the preparation of smart objectives, indicators and impacts.

The objective of the meeting was for the Bioeconomy Stakeholders Panel to contribute with actions that the stakeholders could do themselves to move the bioeconomy forward.  Special attention is given on: stakeholder engagement, public awareness, education and skills, and local development of the Bioeconomy.

 

European Bioeconomy Stakeholders MANIFESTO

This manifesto is the result of a broad, open, extensive and inclusive consultation and dialogue with a wide range of stakeholders in the field of the bioeconomy. The intention is that the resulting manifesto will recognise the opportunities and challenges of developing the bioeconomy and provide inspiration to regions and Member States, at various stages of development of their bioeconomy strategies, as well as for the EU as a whole (…)