Newsletter - ec.europa.eu · 2 Newsletter Bioeconomy Stakeholders Panel – July 2017 Bioeconomy...

Newsletter

6th Bioeconomy Stakeholders Panel

Brussels, 6 and 7 July 2017

© Afanasia, #108889654, 2017. Source: fotolia.com

1 Newsletter Bioeconomy Stakeholders Panel – July 2017 Bioeconomy website

Mr Lino Paula from the European Commission's DG RTD Directorate F – Bioeconomy welcomed the

participants to the 6th meeting of the Bioeconomy Stakeholders Panel. He stressed the importance of

this two-day meeting in terms of finalising the text of the stakeholders' Manifesto and further

advancing the actions previously outlined in four action plans. He also asked the panel members to

focus on what they can achieve together in the future, particularly in light of the upcoming

Bioeconomy Policy Day on 16 November 2017 and the possible satellite event on 17 November 2017.

Mr Waldemar Kütt, Head of the Bioeconomy Strategy Unit, presented an update of the activities of

the European Commission with regard to bioeconomy. He highlighted how the bioeconomy is

featuring in EU policy discussions, for example on the modernisation of Common Agricultural Policy

and on Circular Economy. Recently, Vice-President Katainen and Commissioner Hogan have stressed

the opportunities of bioeconomy for agriculture and competitiveness. At national level, bioeconomy

strategies are being discussed as well, with national strategies recently having been launched by

France and Italy for example. Their strategies emphasise the need to connect bioeconomy to citizens,

sustainability and circularity. Also EU Member States committees like the Standing Committee on

Agricultural Research are actively discussing next steps for the bioeconomy. Mr Kütt finally wished

the panel members a fruitful meeting.

Director John Bell, DG RTD Directorate F – Bioeconomy, encouraged the panel members to find

compromises and finalise a manifesto that is supported by all stakeholders. He stated that such a

joint aspirational document would represent a major step forward for the development of the

bioeconomy by integrating and balancing a variety of viewpoints. Mr Bell also stressed the need to

the action groups to discuss and identify which actions they consider to be feasible and decide with

which actions they intend to continue and eventually work on it, keeping in mind that the high-level

event in November offers an opportunity to present them.

1 . W E L C O M E B Y M R L I N O P A U L A , M R W A L D E M A R K Ü T T

A N D D I R E C T O R J O H N B E L L

https://ec.europa.eu/research/bioeconomy/index.cfm?pg=policy&lib=panel


As planned in the agenda, the morning and part of the afternoon of the first day of the panel meeting

was dedicated to the Manifesto.

At the beginning, Mr Ward Mosmuller from DSM shared his experiences from the process that led to

the Dutch "Manifest Bio-based Economy". He explained how Dutch authorities at the time

encouraged an inclusive dialogue among stakeholders. This led to an informal dialogue platform that

via an iterative process led to a widely endorsed stakeholders manifesto. He highlighted its

usefulness in terms of concrete impact on stakeholder actions in the Netherlands, including on the

Dutch Goverment which considered the manifesto in its policy agenda.

Subsequently, Ms Sini Eräjää presented the work carried out by the Manifesto editing group since the

last Bioeconomy Stakeholders Panel meeting in March 2017. In the months between the two panel

meetings, the editing group amended the Manifesto text in order to address the most important

issues flagged in the March plenary meeting. In the course of this process, the editing group

identified three building blocks, namely paragraphs 12, 24 and 27, which still generated

disagreement.

2 . T H E M A N I F E S T O D R A F T I N G P R O C E S S A N D D I S C U S S I O N

O N T H E W A Y F O R W A R D



An exchange of views on the document as a whole and particularly on the sticking points in the

above-mentioned paragraphs, followed. After having discussed all sticking points, the panel

members agreed on a compromise and made changes to the text accordingly.

Following the emergence of this positive outcome, Ms Zélie Peppiette from the European

Commission's DG AGRI joined the meeting. Building on her experience with multi-stakeholder



engagement in the context of the Cork 2.0 Declaration, Ms Peppiette invited the panel members to

identify and examine structural and logistical issues of the endorsement process in order to pave the

way for their constituencies to support the manifesto.

The discussion on the Manifesto moved on to the required next steps in setting the scene for

presenting the Manifesto on 16 November 2017 and maximising its impact. In their capacity as panel

members, the stakeholders agreed to act as ‘ambassadors’ of the aspirational document to their

respective communities and networks. More precisely, it was concluded that the lengthy process and

valuable resulting text shall be presented as a unique representation of diverse interests,

perspectives, priorities and objectives aligning on a number of common guiding principles and

commitment to joint actions. The panel further decided that the Manifesto will serve as a converging

point that deeply fosters the open, transparent and inclusive dialogue around the sustainable

development of the Bioeconomy in the future.

Finally, some members raised the necessity of, and urgency in, sending out the agreed version to

those members who were absent from the meeting. The panel agreed to begin discussing the

dissemination of the document at the next Bioeconomy Stakeholders Panel meeting in October 2017,

including the modalities of the public presentation of the Manifesto at the Bioeconomy Policy Day on

16 November 2017.

The end of the first day and the whole of the second day were fully dedicated to the work of the

panel on actions, both in a plenary and action group setting.

To start with, the leaders of each of the four action groups "Circular Economy", "Regions", "Public

Awareness and Communication" and "Education and Training" briefly presented the progress made

since the last panel meeting and informed the audience about any other developments and updates

that resulted from the preparatory conference calls that took place in June 2017.

The working group sessions that followed led to tangible progress. The panel and its action groups

advanced with their respective action proposals, focusing on both the long-term perspective and on

the satellite event on 17 November 2017 for which an additional panel activity in the format of a

workshop is planned.

3 . D I S C U S S I O N A N D F U R T H E R D E V E L O P M E N T O F

C O N C R E T E A C T I O N S



The second day ended with a plenary session during which each action group gave a concrete

indication of the accomplished work. Further details on the outcome of discussions from each action

group are presented below.

Building on the work carried out in previous

panel meetings, the "Circular Economy"

Action Group mainly focused during this

meeting on the collection of good examples.

In doing so, each member shared some

examples where bioeconomy is an essential

stimulant or corner stone for the circular

economy. Based on this sample, the group

collectively determined the broad

bioeconomy aspects of these examples (e.g.

research, economy, aquaculture…) as well as

their circular economy aspects such as local

production, re-using and re-cycling. The

group recognised that whether looking at a

final product or product/value chain, most of

the examples are evolving around resource

efficiency, municipal waste and other

residues, plastic, manure, biogas and

nutrients. The group also reached out to the

other action groups asking them for their good examples with regional, educational and

communication features.

Present members: Ortwin

Costenoble, Yannis Fallas,

Darko Ferčej, Paolo La Scola

(on behalf of Catia Bastioli),

Nadia Moalla (on behalf of

Javier Garat Pérez), Jori

Sihvonen, Daniel Zimmer

3 . 1 A C T I O N G R O U P " C I R C U L A R E C O N O M Y "



The "Regions" Action Group addressed the organisation of study visits and/or panel meetings in

different regions, during the next two years, aiming at exchange of knowledge, identification of

partners and awareness raising.

As a starting point, the regions that are member of

the panel will each develop a visiting programme

(i.e. a description of what the 'host' region has to

offer). At the same time, a focused 'core' visitor

group will be created; it shall be composed of

relevant experts from each region, and occasionally

European Commission representatives from

relevant DGs. On a local level, regional policy

makers, business representatives, researchers as

well as people from education and civil society will

also be invited to participate.

A precise mission of the study visits is to

communicate the manifesto to other stakeholders,

which would require media attention (“European

Bioeconomy Manifesto Roadshow”). In terms of

costs, flights and accommodation expenses should

be covered by the participants themselves while

'host' regions will take care of the expenditures

relating to the visiting programme, transportation

and food. Furthermore, the group agreed that rules

and modus operandi have to be set for the visits (e.g. manageable size of the group, visit duration).

Present members: Sanna Alaranta, Fabio Boscaleri, Ingrid Jansson, Magnus Matisons, Jorge Molina-

Villanueva, Bertrand Rigal, Adrienn Somosné Nagy

3 . 2 A C T I O N G R O U P " R E G I O N S "



Driven by the vision of having an interactive E-

bioeconomy, the "Public Awareness and

Communication" Action Group identified the

need to create a community platform for

raising awareness of progress. Before

eventually establishing a website, the group

proposed to first develop a Twitter as well as

Facebook and LinkedIn account reaching out

to all sectors, Member States and regions and

fed with inputs from the three other action

groups within the panel. It was further agreed

that potential account and domain names

would be investigated and a logo would be

designed with a view to launch these

interactive tools between September 2017

and September 2018.

Present members: Joanna Dupont-Inglis and

Georgios Karkampasis (on behalf of Ann

Dierckx)

3 . 3 A C T I O N G R O U P " P U B L I C A W A R E N E S S A N D

C O M M U N I C A T I O N "



The "Education and Training" Action Group started building an inventory of knowledge by examining

good cases of training in bioeconomy, whether on a tertiary education level or vocational context.

Two main branches of knowledge emerged in the identification of such trainings: on one hand the

technical aspects of bioeconomy (i.e. products and processes) often requiring an engineering degree

and on the other hand the more conceptual aspect of the field which is built upon social sciences and

humanities favouring the development of an interdisciplinary approach.

Present members: Lech Michalczuk (on behalf of Stanislaw Bielecki) and Gerlinde Van Vilsteren (on

behalf of Christine Bunthof)

Throughout both days, a number of presentations were given by members and invited external

attendees regarding their activities and initiatives relating to bioeconomy. The slides can be found

hereunder.

4 . P R E S E N T A T I O N S

3 . 4 A C T I O N G R O U P " E D U C A T I O N A N D T R A I N I N G "



Mr Lino Paula briefly presented the timeline and process of the ongoing Review of the Bioeconomy

Strategy, which is carried out by the European Commission's DG RTD in consultation with other

relevant European Commission services. He further informed the panel that Commissioner Moedas

will be presenting the Staff Working Document on the review of the strategy on 16 November 2017.

4 . 1 . P R E S E N T A T I O N O N T H E B I O E C O N O M Y S T R A T E G Y

R E V I E W B Y M R L I N O P A U L A



Mr Johan Elvnert informed the panel about the work of the Forest-Based Sector ETP. He highlighted

that ETP is comprised of many different stakeholders with different priorities that have developed a

joint vision. He described how the ETP works together with the European Commission, and that ETPs

could be a way for the European Commission to better connect to stakeholders and disseminate

results of EU projects.

4 . 2 . P R E S E N T A T I O N O N " T H E R O L E O F E U R O P E A N

T E C H N O L O G Y P L A T F O R M S ( E T P S ) I L L U S T R A T E D B Y T H E

E X A M P L E O F F T P " B Y M R J O H A N E L V N E R T



The presentation of Mr Magnus Matisons displayed some good examples from BioFuel Region AB

(northern Sweden) on the role of forest biomass in developing the bioeconomy. Mr Matisons

particularly highlighted the dynamics experienced in the transition from a fossil economy to bio

economy. In addition, he informed the panel of the latest development in the region and thus

announced that his organisation will coordinate a bioeconomic network between 12 Swedish

regions. In coordinating information activities both on national and EU level, this project will also

enable providing relevant input to consultations taking place in Brussels.

4 . 3 . P R E S E N T A T I O N O N " T H E F U T U R E R O L E O F F O R E S T

B I O M A S S I N T H E B I O E C O N O M Y " B Y M R M A G N U S

M A T I S O N S



Mr Jorge Molina-Villanueva presented regional innovation “Tractor” projects linked to bioeconomy.

This combination of regional and EU funds are one of the instruments of the Navarra region in Spain.

Most projects are led by industries with high Technology Readiness Levels and with a particular focus

on addressing actual modern industrial technological challenges.

4 . 4 . P R E S E N T A T I O N O F " E X A M P L E S O F R E G I O N A L G O O D

P R A C T I C E S F U N D I N G I N N O V A T I O N I N B I O E C O N O M Y : T H E

C A S E O F ' T R A C T O R ' P R O J E C T S " B Y M R J O R G E M O L I N A -V I L L A N U E V A



Mr Francesc Giró I Fontanals presented good practices from the region of Catalonia that directly

relate to the actions of the panel. He showcased local initiatives that illustrate the bio-based

economy part of the circular economy, awareness campaigns on waste at level of primary education,

and the construction of a new biorefinary for methanol production.

4 . 5 . P R E S E N T A T I O N O N T H E " E X P E R I E N C E O N

B I O E C O N O M Y I N C A T A L O N I A - C H A L L E N G E S &

O P P O R T U N I T I E S " B Y M R F R A N C E S C G I R Ó I F O N T A N A L S



The discussions and activities of the 6th Bioeconomy Stakeholders Panel meeting concluded the

drafting of the final text of the Manifesto with the informal agreement of the members present in

the meeting. In addition, the sessions on the actions enabled tangible progress in the advancement

of the activities of each action group. In light of these positive outcomes, the panel finished its

meeting by discussing in a plenary setting a number of tentative scenarios regarding a full panel

activity in an interactive format with external audience on 17 November 2017. Some of the different

options that were considered as standalone and/or complementary activities are:

Workshop with SCAR, or working dinner, or

joint position paper on links with Circular

Economy.

Workshop with EUBA - exchange of ideas for

revision of the strategy, based on the Manifesto

Stakeholder workshop on the outcome of the

Manifesto (how to use it), that could take place

in the EP or CoR

Talking Corners in world café format on actions

Showcase bioeconomy projects, ask for

feedback on Manifesto, create new

collaborations in the implementation of

Manifesto's actions

Information session on networks for developing

the bioeconomy

Gather stakeholder's insight on how they view

implementation of the Manifesto

5 . C O N C L U S I O N S



In terms of next steps, the panel agreed to discuss during their October meeting the modalities of the

public presentation of the Manifesto at the Bioeconomy Policy Day on 16 November 2017, as well as

how the Manifesto can serve as an inspiring reference to stakeholders, possibly with other

stakeholder representatives visibly endorsing the Manifesto. Equally important, the members agreed

to collectively design in October an agenda for the satellite event on 17 November 2017,

representing the panel as a whole and inspired by its activities in the recent months.

The next Bioeconomy Stakeholders Panel will take place in Brussels on 13 October 2017. After this

meeting, the panel members will meet at the Bioeconomy Policy Day on 16 November 2017 and the

panel's satellite event on 17 November 2017.

6 . N E X T S T E P S

7 . N E X T M E E T I N G S



Bioeconomy Stakeholders/ Representatives

Sanna ALARANTA

Fabio BOSCALERI

Ortwin COSTENOBLE

Joanna DUPONT-INGLIS

Johan ELVNERT

Sini ERÄJÄÄ

Yannis FALLAS

Darko FERČEJ

Ingrid JANSSON (on behalf of Maria HOLLANDER)

Georgios KARKAMPASIS (on behalf of Ann

DIERCKX)

Michal KOROLKO

Paolo LA SCOLA (on behalf of Catia BASTIOLI)

Jesper LUND-LARSEN

Magnus MATISONS

Lech MICHALCZUK (on behalf of Stanislaw

BIELICKI)

Nadia MOALLA (on behalf of Javier GARAT PÉREZ)

Jorge MOLINA-VILLANUEVA

Valentin OPFERMANN (on behalf of Kjell

IVARSSON)

Bertrand RIGAL

Jori SIHVONEN

Adrienn SOMOSNÉ NAGY

Daniela THRÄN

Gerlinde VAN VILSTEREN (on behalf of Christine

BUNTHOF)

Daniel ZIMMER

Observers

Jan VAN ESCH

European Commission

John BELL, DG RTD.F

Georgios KASTRINOS, DG RTD.F.1

Waldemar KÜTT, DG RTD.F.1

Lino PAULA, DG RTD.F.1

Zélie PEPPIETTE, DG AGRI.DDG2

External Participants

Francesc GIRÓ I FONTANALS

Ward MOSMULLER

8 . L I S T O F P A R T I C I P A N T S

Disclaimer

"The opinions expressed in this report represent the point of view of the meeting participants. These opinions

cannot, under any circumstances, be attributed to the European Commission. Neither the European Commission

nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission is responsible for the use which might be made of the here

above information."


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