Objective of the workshop:

To investigate solutions for achieving sustainable (economically and environmentally viable) biomass production by addressing the impact on and by climate change and land use to the establishment of KBBE.

The aim of this two-day workshop is to bring together experts of science, industry (including SMEs) and other stakeholders of the ETPs to address the meaning of sustainability in the various KBBE areas, and define business and research opportunities for a sustainable European bio-economy.

One outcome of the meeting has been practical policy recommendations on the major issues where the Knowledge Bio-Based Economy can make a difference for sustainable European food and non-food chains in a changing environment. The workshop addressed the ecological, economic and social dimension of sustainability. These include the necessary steps that need to be made in research and business, the regulatory and trade climate, training provision, incentives to increase industrial commitment, transparency and communication with society, and international cooperation.

Two topical issues have been addressed specifically: the impact on and by climate change and resources use to the establishment of KBBE (the impact of climate change on biological production in future climate scenarios; possibilities of biomass production; recommendations to lower or even improve the environmental impact of plant, animal and (non)food production; improvement production cycles to optimize the available biomass use; various options to optimize biomass production and biomass use; impact of renewable resources on food supply will be worked out into recommendations for research and key industry issues). The workshop has also taken into consideration the global perspective on KBBE action in Europe as a crucial part of sustainable development in Europe and globally.