The transition towards a circular bioeconomy is increasingly recognised as one of the key pathways supporting Europe’s sustainability, climate, and competitiveness objectives. While technological innovation plays a crucial role, the BIOECO-UP project highlights an equally important dimension of this transformation: the evolution of policy frameworks capable of enabling systemic change.
BIOECO-UP team observed how to strengthenin policy foundations of the circular bioeconomy across Central and Eastern Europe, with particular emphasis on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
From the outset, the work concentrated on understanding how circular bioeconomy objectives are currently reflected in national policies. A transnational policy analysis conducted across partner countries revealed a diverse landscape. Countries differ not only in their strategic priorities, but also in their levels of policy maturity, governance arrangements, and implementation mechanisms.
Despite these differences, a consistent message emerged. CAP instruments are widely perceived as one of the most influential policy levers supporting circular bioeconomy development. Investments, cooperation mechanisms, eco-schemes, and knowledge-transfer tools already provide significant opportunities for integrating circular approaches into agricultural and rural systems.
To complement the analytical work, BIOECO-UP partners created spaces for dialogue and exchange. A dedicated bioeconomy policy workshop brought together policy experts, researchers, and stakeholders, enabling discussions on practical challenges, governance barriers, and enabling conditions for mainstreaming circular bioeconomy measures. These exchanges reinforced the importance of cross-sectoral coordination, integrated value chains, and adaptive policy design.
Building upon these insights, the project moved from analysis to strategy. The Central European Bioeconomy Strategy and Action Plan developed within BIOECO-UP offers a structured yet flexible framework supporting the integration of circular bioeconomy principles into CAP programming and related national policies.
Rather than proposing isolated measures, the Strategy adopts a systemic perspective. It recognises that the circular bioeconomy connects governance, innovation, environmental performance, value chains, and human capital. This integrated logic is reflected in six interlinked areas of intervention, ranging from governance and Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS), through research and digitalisation, to sustainable value chains, rural communities, and skills development.
An equally important dimension of the work lies in capitalisation and knowledge transfer. Through meetings, workshops, newsletters, and events, project outputs contribute to broader macro-regional policy dialogue, extending beyond consortium countries. This process strengthens not only the visibility of circular bioeconomy approaches, but also cross-country learning and cooperation.
The project looks beyond current policy cycles. This forward-looking perspective supports decision-makers in anticipating emerging trends, identifying transformation pathways, and aligning future policies with sustainability and innovation objectives.
The experience of BIOECO-UP confirms a fundamental insight. The circular bioeconomy is not a standalone sector, but a systemic transformation requiring alignment between policies, technologies, markets, and societal actors. Effective progress therefore depends on cooperation, policy coherence, and evidence-based decision-making.
We are pleased to present a comprehensive collection of our project results, available on the project website and the BIOEAST Knowledge Platform. Explore our publications and materials below.
- Bioeconomy policy – Workshop summary and selected measures
- Reflections on the EU Agri-food vision 2040, CAP 2028-2034 and circular bioeconomy
- Strategy and Action Plan for Bioeconomy Measures_D3.2.1
- Short Verson of Strategy and Action Plan for Bioeconmy Measures