The expert knowledge of people involved in implementing activities for the bioeconomy on a daily basis and representing bioeconomy sectors is a source of valuable data on its status quo, its potential, as well as strengths and weaknesses.
Therefore, in order to gain crucial insight and formulate recommendations fostering the potential growth of this branch of economy, an expert workshop was held on 31 March – 1 April 2025 at the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) in Warsaw, Poland.
Organised by the project team from the Polish Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – State Research Institute, the meeting focused on the intersection of bioeconomy development and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in the Polish context, and was implemented under Activity 3.2 of the project, which is coordinated by the Polish team.
Workshop Objectives and Methodology
The objective of the workshop was to critically assess previous and ongoing efforts to integrate bioeconomic strategies within CAP implementation in Poland and to formulate targeted recommendations for future policy development. The workshop was conducted using the Delphi Method, a structured foresight technique designed to facilitate expert consensus on complex topics.
The meeting brought together 16 experts representing a broad spectrum of sectors, including research and development, strategic planning, sectoral innovation, and agriculture. Participants included representatives of research institutions, professional associations, enterprises, and public sector organizations engaged in bioeconomy-related activities.
Key Topics Addressed
The discussions was concentrated on the topics of:
- The effectiveness of past and current CAP instruments in supporting the bioeconomy;
- The level of stakeholder engagement in shaping and implementing policy measures;
- Identification of bottlenecks and opportunities within the agriculture-related value chain;
- Recommendations for strengthening synergies between national strategies and EU bioeconomy- and CAP-driven objectives.
Through a series of structured rounds, the Delphi-based approach facilitated in-depth analysis and open exchange of perspectives, leading to the identification of both consensus areas and points of divergence that require further attention.
Preliminary Conclusions and Next Steps
The workshop resulted in a set of initial policy recommendations, which will be further refined and validated. These conclusions will form the basis of a national report, to be submitted to relevant public institutions, including the Polish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, with the aim of enhancing the bioeconomy growth within agricultural policy frameworks.
The meeting demonstrated the value of inclusive and interdisciplinary dialogue, supported by expert knowledge and strategic insight. It also underlined the importance of aligning sectoral innovations with policy planning to accelerate the development of a resilient and sustainable bioeconomy in Poland and Central Europe.