About the Bioeconomy

The bioeconomy is transforming how we use our land and sea resources. Adopting a bioeconomy approach allows us to maximise the use of our crops, forests, fish, and ‘waste’ streams, to create food, bio-based materials, and bioenergy in a more sustainable and circular way.

To facilitate increased understanding and awareness of the bioeconomy in Ireland, the Department has commissioned a Bioeconomy in Action video series. This series features three unique case studies of the bioeconomy in action in Ireland, demonstrating how the bioeconomy is creating new value chains for farmers and agri-food businesses, empowering communities, and offering sustainable choices to consumers.

To view the full bioeconomy video series, see: Bioeconomy in Action video series

In the new EU Bioeconomy Strategy (2025), the bioeconomy is defined as the activities that deliver sustainable solutions based on biological resources to create added value. These include products, services, science and technologies benefiting sectors ranging from agriculture, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture to value chains based on biomass processing, biomanufacturing and biotechnologies such as in food, health, energy, industry, ecosystem and other services. Biological resources include genetic resources, as well as primary and secondary biomass, such as by-products and residues, and biogenic carbon captured through innovative technologies.

The bioeconomy represents a strategic opportunity of the 21st century - a driver of green growth, competitiveness and resilience. It makes better use of our biological resources, scientific excellence and industrial base to decarbonise our economy and replace fossil-based materials and products. It develops practical solutions that support economic prosperity, and strong rural and coastal communities, while helping industry shift to more circular production models. It contributes to Ireland’s and the EU’s strategic autonomy by reducing reliance on imported fossil-based products and can contribute significantly to climate and environmental goals such as resource efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions reduction, water resilience, zero pollution and biodiversity.

Interactive Bioeconomy Ireland Map

To find out more about the how we can develop a bioeconomy society, explore this interactive map produced by BiOrbic in partnership with the Irish Bioeconomy Network.

Contact us

For more information on the Bioeconomy in Ireland, please contact:

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine at research@agriculture.gov.ie

and

The Department of Environment, Climate and Communication at bioeconomy@decc.gov.ie