Bioeconomy creates new growth and opportunities. For this reason, the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, in cooperation with the European Commission, aims to elevate the European bioeconomy to a new level at the upcoming European Bioeconomy Scene 2019 conference on 8–10 July in Helsinki.
The goal of the bioeconomy conference is to move the European bioeconomy and circular economy into the next era, reflecting social sustainability, equity and fairness in all activities, explained the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in a press release.
According to the organizers, the name of the conference, European Bioeconomy Scene 2019, refers to the stage where the EU’s new bioeconomy strategy, published last October, will be presented to the public.
Discussions will be centered on how the new strategy can be used to its full potential in all the member states of the European Union (EU). The Government's statement says that "embracing the bioeconomy is a wise business move that is essential if we want to ensure a sustainable future".
Strong cooperation needed
“We have set the scene for dialogue between the European Commission and its member states in order to find ways to realise the strengths of a bioeconomy built on each member state’s own expertise. Sustainable wellbeing is based not only on the smart and responsible use of renewable resources but also strong cooperation between the member states,” says Jaana Husu-Kallio, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
Finnish Government considers that Europe is on its way to becoming a carbon-neutral society. But Climate change, rapid technological development, the competition for depleting natural resources, the transformation of the global economy, changes in values and attitudes, demographic shifts and urbanization are forces of change that affect Europeans on a global scale.
Clean food and water
Therefore, Finnish authorities remark that "the world needs sustainable solutions that will make it possible to safeguard the availability of clean food and water, promote a sustainable natural resource economy and ensure the success of rural areas".
The conference will focus on presenting the findings of recent studies on the sustainable bioeconomy and on promoting networking between European experts in the field. The conference will bring together a wide range of bioeconomy and circular economy experts, academics, decision-makers and stakeholders from the industry and civil society.
The European Bioeconomy Scene 2019 conference will be one of the highlights of Finland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU. Finnish Government expects that "it will provide a unique opportunity to set the course for the European bioeconomy in the coming years".
