Press release
Launch of the National Bioeconomy Forum
From Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD, along with Minister of State in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Martin Heydon TD, today announced the launch of the National Bioeconomy Forum to promote, support and advocate for the sustainable development of the bioeconomy in Ireland.
The National Bioeconomy Forum will provide a voice for a broad range of stakeholders, including industry, community groups, NGOs and relevant state bodies.
The bioeconomy uses renewable, biological resources sourced sustainably from land and sea such as crops, forestry, fisheries, aquaculture, micro-organisms and animals and converts these resources into value-added bio-based products including proteins, feeds, fertilizers, plastics and energy. The bioeconomy has the potential to create new, sustainable opportunities for farmers and high-quality, green jobs in rural and coastal areas. The Government recognises the important role that Ireland’s bioeconomy can play in meeting our climate change targets, and outlined a range of commitments in the Programme for Government to develop and grow the sector.
Speaking today, Minister Ryan said:
“Developing the Irish bioeconomy will help Ireland better use our natural and biological resources from our land and sea, in a sustainable and circular manner – supporting the economy, the country and the climate. It will also help us make the changes we need to make, particularly in our agricultural sector, by creating new sustainable options for farmers.”
The National Bioeconomy Forum will focus on balancing the research and development, regulatory and market needs to support the sector to thrive. The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) and DAFM will now work together to establish the Forum, with a work programme to commence in early 2021.
The launch of the Forum coincides with ‘Bioeconomy Ireland Week 2020’ which takes place between Monday 19 October to Friday 23 October 2020. Bioeconomy Ireland Week will place a spotlight on Ireland’s bioeconomy through a series of online events and activities suited towards a diverse range of audiences (citizens, industry professionals and policymakers) from multiple leading stakeholder groups within the Irish Bioeconomy Network. The week-long series of events is coordinated by DAFM and DECC in collaboration with bioeconomy leaders including BiOrbic SFI Bioeconomy Research Centre and Irish Bioeconomy Foundation.
For more information visit the Bioeconomy Ireland website.
ENDS