The bioeconomy is a modern economic concept that focuses on the use of renewable biological resources (RBR) to produce value-added products such as food, feed, bioenergy and products made from biological materials.

According to the European Commission's definition, the bioeconomy is composed of two main components:

• Sustainable biomass production – the aim is to increase the use of biomass in various sectors, with an emphasis on reducing emissions, the impacts of climate change and dependence on fossil resources.
• Increasing the added value of biomass – optimizing biomass processing with minimal energy consumption and efficient use of nutrients, leading to higher value of ecosystem services and benefits for the economy.

The importance of the bioeconomy is also confirmed by the European Green Deal, a strategic document of the European Union that supports the principles of the bioeconomy in all key areas, such as biodiversity, clean energy, sustainable industry, and the fight against climate change.

Key tasks

The main tasks of the bioeconomy include:

• Sustainable management of natural resources.
• Sustainable production.
• Improving public health.
• Climate change mitigation.
• Integration and balancing of social development.
• Global sustainable development.

The importance of bioeconomy for the Czech Republic

Bioeconomy is a multidisciplinary topic in the Czech Republic that connects the work of several ministries:

• Ministry of Agriculture (MZe) – responsible for sustainable biomass production.
• Ministry of Industry and Trade (MIT) – focuses on the use of biomass in the economy.
• Ministry of the Environment (MOE) – responsible for protecting and improving the environment and biodiversity.
• Ministry for Regional Development (MMR) – supports regional development and cohesion.

The future of the bioeconomy

Innovative biotechnology and the sustainable use of biotechnologies have the potential to fundamentally improve the state of the environment, support biodiversity and create new value chains. The bioeconomy is therefore becoming a key to sustainable development and the transition to a green economy.