An economy that protects nature

Biodiversity conservation and climate conditions are fundamentally intertwined. Addressing the challenge for biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation implies synergies and trade-offs. A strong bioeconomy is vital to address these planetary crises.

Forests are home to much of the continent’s biodiversity21. When sustainably managed22,forests maintain their ecological functions, including biodiversity preservation. Despite ongoing climate change, the index for common forest birds has been stable over the last 30 years and 50% of forest habitats listed in Annex 1 of the EU Habitats Directive are in good condition23.

Developing bio-economies can contribute to the enhancement of biodiversity while improving the provision of other ecosystem services24. In the EU, biomass is produced according to standards that are among the highest in the world in terms of quality and sustainability, which farmers, forest owners and their cooperatives are legally bound to respect.

Sustainable crop cultivation

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Industrial biotechnology provides innovative solutions for sustainable agriculture, for instance through the use of biostimulants and biocontrol, thus contributing to the objectives of the Farm-to-Fork and Biodiversity strategies.

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A number of CBE JU-funded projects like PHERA, B-FERST and BIOVEXO are contributing to the EU’s biodiversity goals by providing innovative bio-based alternatives to more traditional pesticides and fertilisers.

Footnotes

  • 21.European Commission website, Forest, Forest Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity.
  • 22.Second Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe, Helsinki Resolution – General Guidelines for the Sustainable Manage- ment of Forests in Europe, 1993.
  • 23.European Environment Agency, State of Nature in the EU, result from reporting under directives 2013-2018, 2020.
  • 24.European Commission, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, How the bioeconomy contributes to the European Green Deal, 2020.