Month: April 2025

How can education support the shift toward a more sustainable, circular economy? The GenB project offers a set of practical policy recommendations aimed at including bioeconomy topics in education systems across Europe. The “GenB Policy Recommendations: Executive Summary” is now available in 24 languages, providing a concise and accessible overview of key proposals and project insights.

The recommendations are based on co-design activities carried out with students (ages 4–19), educators, and other stakeholders across Europe. These activities revealed which approaches best support learning about the bioeconomy. This concept centres around the use of renewable biological resources (such as plants, waste, or microorganisms) to produce food, materials, and energy.

The summary outlines five main areas for action:

• Curriculum reform to include bioeconomy and sustainability topics.
• Professional development and recognition for educators.
• Collaboration and community-building across schools and institutions.
• Access to resources, with a focus on national endorsement and availability.
• Technology and inclusion, ensuring innovative and equitable learning environments.

The summary also highlights the importance of STEM education and gender balance in shaping the future of green skills and sustainable innovation.

This document reflects the GenB consortium’s contribution to policy dialogues at multiple levels, European, national, and institutional, and serves as a practical foundation for promoting environmental sustainability through education.

Download the Executive Summary of GenB’s Policy Recommendations here!

On the 16^th of April 2025, APRE has organised the launching event for the Podcast for kids on the circular and sustainable Bioeconomy. The event was hosted by the I.C Guicciardini school in Rome. It was held in the theatre of the school in front of students of the primary classes, teachers from kindergarten, primary and intermediate levels, parents and grandparents.

The podcast, BIO-AVVENTURES – First steps for small innovators, is dedicated to children aged 4-8, and it was produced by APRE as part of the Horizon Europe GenB project.

Bio-Adventures consists of eleven episodes, designed to convey the basic principles of bioeconomy. Each story lasts about 8-10 minutes, in line with the attention span of children of the indicated age. Each episode is a mix of scientific, economic and social information, presented in a narrative format that allows children to learn complex concepts in a natural way, while listening to engaging stories that stimulate their imagination.

The event was opened by the Director of the hosting school Ms. Simona Di Matteo that underlined the long lasting collaboration with APRE in bringing into the classrooms the bioeconomy and the sustainability through European funded projects.

Ms. Chiara Pocaterra, GenB Coordinator and APRE Head of Projects Department, presented the work done in almost three years in schools and in many other informal contexts such as large events and museums with students of all levels and young people.

Ms. Enrica Imbert, Professor of Economics at UNITELMA Sapienza Rome, introduced the bioeconomy to the audience in order to give the elements to understand the theme

Ms. Sara Silvi, Art Director in APRE, presented the process for the production of podcast from the selection of the authors, through their training in order to make them aware of the bioeconomy, the production of the stories, the selection of the actors / voices of the podcast and the design of the images. The podcast has been published on Spotify and a poster has been designed to be hung in many different contexts where children are present. A challenging activity for a high quality result.

Ms. Laura Mentini, Education Manager in APRE, presented the GenB educational model and all the available tools on line for free for teachers and educators.

Two of the authors of the podcast stories, Ms. Cristiana Pezzetta and Ms. Giorgia De Cristoforo, participated at the event and introduced their stories, while the actors Mr. Maurizio Raia and Ms. Claudia Salvatore read two excerpts from the stories of the  two authors.

Ms. Chiara Pocaterra closed the event “We hope that these stories can be a companion in many different moments of a child’s life, while giving them information about the special world of the bioeconomy and its opportunities” and gifted with the poster the school Director, a representative of the Italian Society of Pediatrics, Dr. Luciana Indinnimeo and a representative of INDIRE, the National Institute for Documentation, Innovation and Educational Research of the Italian Ministry of Education, Ms. Alessia Rosa.

Thanks also to Ms. Flavia Fusconi, Project Manager in APRE, who followed the contractual aspects of the podcast production.

The Horizon Europe-funded projects GenB and BioBeo hosted their joint Final Event on the 10^th of April 2025 under the banner “Bridging Generations: Education and Policy to Shape a Sustainable Future”. The event brought together key stakeholders from the European Commission, academia and educational innovators to celebrate achievements in advancing bioeconomy education for younger generations.

Held at ACE Events in Brussels, the day featured interactive exhibitions, policy-focused discussions and a strong emphasis on cross-project collaboration. Representatives from the European Commission’s DG RTD, DG AGRI, REA and Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) joined educators and project partners to explore how education can empower the youth for a more sustainable, circular future.

One of the event’s most anticipated moments was the official declaration of the “European Community of Practice for Bioeconomy Lower Education”. Announced by Chiara Pocaterra, GenB Coordinator and Head of Projects Department at APRE, this new Community of Practice (CoP) is set to carry forward the legacy of GenB, BioBeo and other aligned initiatives.

“The assets built during the last few years cannot be lost. On the contrary, the ‘European Community of Practice for Bioeconomy Lower Education’ will contribute to valorising the efforts done and stimulate the debate among experts of education and bioeconomy,” said Pocaterra.

The CoP aims to connect educators, researchers and bioeconomy advocates across Europe to share best practices, co-create new methodologies and support the implementation of bioeconomy education in schools. It builds upon the combined educational models, tools and policy recommendations developed by GenB and BioBeo over the last 30 months.

During the event, participants also had the opportunity to engage with practical tools and educational materials developed not only by GenB and BioBeo but also from projects like BioGov.Net, CLEVERFOOD, LOESS, ProBleu, Circular Schools, Life Terra, SLEs, BlueMissionMed and BlueRev, showcasing the collective efforts driving systemic change in European education.

The event concluded with a policy-oriented session, delivering actionable recommendations to shape the future of bioeconomy education within the revised EU Bioeconomy Strategy. This collaborative and forward-looking approach reinforces the European Union’s commitment to sustainability, youth empowerment, and education as central levers of transformation.

We are living in a key moment for transforming our agricultural systems. In the face of climate change, natural resource pressure, and the challenge of feeding a growing population, the combination of technological innovation and the bioeconomy offers a clear path toward a more sustainable, resilient, and efficient agriculture.

My daily work aimed precisely at that: enabling the transition to smarter farming systems, where digital tools and climate solutions are not a luxury, but a practical asset for farmers and workers. In this context, climate-smart agriculture becomes a cornerstone, helping to mitigate climate impacts, adapt to new conditions, and optimise resource use without compromising productivity.

However, sustainability cannot be truly achieved without addressing the role of the bioeconomy. Based on my experience, the bioeconomy is not just a new model for producing, transforming, and reusing biological resources, it is also a strategic tool for integrating innovation in a way that is both sustainable and socially fair, particularly within the primary sector. While, Europe champions sustainable innovation, too often it reaches farmers and end-users in the form of complex, fast-moving requirements that feel disconnected from the day-to-day realities of working the land.

That’s where the bioeconomy actually makes a difference, and it acts as a bridge. It connects scientific knowledge with practical expertise, aligns public interest with private value, and translates institutional ambition into grounded, real-world action. It helps close the persistent gap between the agricultural world and the public administration, a gap that often leads to frustration, mistrust, and disengagement.

Of course, this shift is not easy. But one thing I’ve learned is that technology and innovation alone will not deliver a just or effective transformation. What we truly need is a shared vision, institutional coherence, and a framework that actively includes those who are often left behind. And this is precisely where the bioeconomy becomes essential: by offering not only tools and solutions, but also a systemic approach that places sustainability, inclusion, and practicality at the core of innovation. A well-understood and well-applied bioeconomy doesn’t just accompany change, it enables and anchors it, making sure that progress is rooted in the real needs of people, territories, and the planet.

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The Anthropocene era, a period in which human activity has become the dominant geological force that marks a critical turning point for the environment. Reckless greenhouse gas emissions, overexploitation of natural resources, and biodiversity loss have pushed the planet into an unprecedented ecological crisis. At the same time, rising temperatures and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events make the need for immediate solutions imperative. Modern challenges require innovative strategies, with the bioeconomy emerging as an alternative approach to sustainable development and resilience.

The bioeconomy, based on the sustainable use of biological resources, proposes an economic model that reduces dependence on non-renewable raw materials while promoting environmental sustainability. The integration of biological innovations into sectors such as agriculture, energy, and industry can lead to the creation of circular production systems, reducing pollutant emissions and waste. Simultaneously, new technologies, such as synthetic biology and biotechnology, enhance the efficiency of production processes, making the bioeconomy both sustainable and competitive.

At an international level, the need for a green transition is becoming increasingly urgent, with the European Union and other global organizations promoting policies that support the bioeconomy. The European Green Deal, for instance, aims for a climate-neutral continent by 2050, while many countries are investing in research and innovation in the field of biotechnology. Governments also play a crucial role, recognizing the need for investments in renewable energy sources, green technologies, and sustainable production practices.

Beyond its environmental dimension, the bioeconomy also plays a pivotal role in geopolitics. The energy crisis and instability in supply chains make the need for energy and production autonomy more pressing than ever. The development of sustainable alternative resources can reduce dependence on fossil fuels and contribute to the formation of a more resilient economic system. Additionally, the bioeconomy has the potential to strengthen local communities by creating new job opportunities and enhancing social cohesion.

In response to climate change, the bioeconomy offers solutions that combine environmental protection with economic growth. From biofuel and biodegradable material production to sustainable agriculture and waste management, its applications can mitigate the impacts of the climate crisis. At the same time, the development of innovative technologies, such as bioprocesses and circular supply chains, helps reduce environmental footprints and strengthens resilience against future crises.

In conclusion, the Anthropocene is defined by the challenges arising from human impact on the planet. However, the bioeconomy stands out as a promising solution capable of transforming production and consumption models, contributing to the shaping of a sustainable future both environmentally and economically. With the right strategy and support from policymakers, the bioeconomy can serve as a pillar of sustainable development and global resilience against the climate and economic challenges of the 21st century.

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