The launch took place at a Bioeconomy Research Symposium held in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s Backweston Campus in Celbridge, Co. Kildare.
The Bioeconomy Research Symposium highlighted the investment of €25 million by the Department in bioeconomy research since 2018. This included studies around modular timber building, diversification of protein resources and new biomass streams, development of wood-based composites, producing new biopesticides and biofertilisers, and designing a bioeconomy regional strategy.
Minister Heydon said: “We are now moving beyond an initial development phase to a mobilisation phase when it comes to the bioeconomy. My Department’s bioeconomy research investment has supported the advancement of the knowledge and innovation base to develop the Irish Bioeconomy. Looking to the future, our aim is to develop a Bioeconomy Action Plan for the period 2023-2025. This will focus on enabling the design and development of transformation pathways to develop the bioeconomy as a green, sustainable, and circular business model, underpinned by science, technology, cooperation, and innovation.
“The greater utilisation of biological resources ticks the boxes when it comes to economic, environmental, and societal sustainability. It can create new sources of income for the agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and broader agri-food sector.”
The theme for Bioeconomy Ireland Week is ‘All Voices Together’, where a broad range of activities and events will showcase how the natural environment can be utilised in a sustainable and circular way to help achieve a prosperous society for primary producers, industry, researchers, children and other citizens.