GenB Ambassador Article: The Bioeconomy as a bridge, making innovation work

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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