Industrial Biotech Council

About the Council

Industrial biotechnology uses enzymes and micro-organisms to make biobased products from renewable raw materials in sectors such as chemicals, food and feed, detergents, paper and pulp, textiles, and bioenergy.

EuropaBio’s Industrial Biotechnology Council develops sector-specific strategies with member companies, national biotech association representatives and sector experts. These drive EuropaBio advocacy in the area of circular bioeconomy, and all biotech applications.

We also organised events and activities through our flagship Forum, the European Forum for Industrial Biotechnology and the Bioeconomy (EFIB)

The association is a founding member of the European Bioeconomy Alliance (EUBA)

Industrial Biotechnology in Action

Priorities

The Council's overall priority is to achieve a favourable policy & regulatory environment for all biotech products and processes in the EU.

A global technology race is underway in the industrial biotechnology sector. The winners will lead global manufacturing and trade in several sectors. Their economies will be more competitive, sustainable and resilient. By reducing their dependency on non-renewable resources and harnessing a broader range of food and feed production technologies, they will strengthen their strategic autonomy and food security.

Despite its strong science and research base, and the EU Commission’s recent announcements on its ambition for European leadership in new technologies, Europe now needs urgent and immediate actions to create impact from these good intentions and to reinforce its competitiveness.

The EU must start with a bioproduction scale-up coupled with a regulatory environment that encourages investments in research and development and which fosters innovation. The EU must also provide incentives that attract the best in class for skills, in both business and biomanufacturing.

EuropaBio works to translate a complex technology into concrete impact stories through the European Forum for Industrial Biotechnology and the Bioeconomy (EFIB).

Priorities

The Industrial Biotechnology Council has priorities selected by Members for shared work throughout the year. Priorities include: A favourable policy & regulatory environment for all IB products and processes in the EU.

Current and future biotechnology innovation needs a science-based, proportionate and predictable regulatory approach. It is also important to ensure appropriate and realistic policy and regulatory requirements for GMM-derived food & feed products and additives, to further contribute to improved nutrition for humans and animals.

Within this priority, focus is thus placed on topics such as the GM regulatory framework and GMM specific items of interest. The EU Green Deal is also a primary focus, increasing political and public recognition of the relevance and value of Industrial Biotechnology.

Increase awareness and understanding of the benefits of industrial biotechnology and its contribution to the EU’s green transformation

Industrial biotechnology is an enabling technology for a more competitive, sustainable and circular bioeconomy.

EuropaBio works to translate a complex technology into concrete impact stories, deliver the European Forum for Industrial Biotechnology and the Bioeconomy (EFIB) and support EU R&I framework to drive biotechnology as key contributor to help tackle global challenges.

The association is a founding member of the European Bioeconomy Alliance and also its chair in 2021.