Director and Head of the Swedish Forest Industries Federation’s Brussels office, Kaisa Soro-Pesonen, reflects on the question how can Europe grow its bioeconomy.
Hi Kaisa Soro-Pesonen, Director and Head of the Swedish Forest Industries Federation’s Brussels office, Why should Europe focus on growing its bioeconomy?
Maybe the most obvious is the urgent need to replace fossil materials and energy to secure a climate transition and the development of a circular economy. But there are also great untapped opportunities to create jobs, new industries and drive growth. But to do that we need ambitious targets and active policies that support the bioeconomy.
What are the main challenges for Europe to grow its bioeconomy?
It’s maybe not so much challenges as just actions that needs to be taken to support the industry. One is for example to include climate policy instruments for buildings and products and a revision of the LULUCF framework, or simpler regulation to mobilise biomass production.
What are the biggest opportunities for the bioeconomy?
The climate transition and the work to strengthen biodiversity force us to transition from a fossil-based economy. The bioeconomy is the key to that transition.
