3.4 Implementing a Water-Wise Bio-Based Economy
Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, the European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, has
defined bioeconomy
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as ‘the use of renewable resources from land and sea, and the use of
waste to make value added products, such as food, feed, bio-based products and bioenergy’.
One of the most likely effects of a bio-based economy is the intensification of agriculture,
forestry and aquaculture, resulting from the development of non-food products (biomass, bio-
fuel, timber, etc.). Further intensification will pose a number of challenges for Europe, such as
increased pressure on natural and artificial resources (water, land, and agrochemicals), and the
need for more efficient agroforestry systems. On the other hand, non-food activities can play
a relevant role in water reuse and recycling. Since the bio-based economy has not yet been
fully deployed, joint RDI activities will arrive on time to streamline its water profile in quantitative
and qualitative terms. Understanding the effects of the bio-based economy on European
ecosystems and on water-delivery systems will require intense cooperative research. This theme
is characterised by strong interactions between hydrology, agronomy, forestry science and
plant-breeding. Experimental, modelling and social sciences approaches need to be combined
to ensure that the right combination of technologies and policies is deployed in the agricultural
sector to reach the target of sustainable intensification. In the Water JPI, agricultural water
use is analysed from the point of view of natural resources, not as a production factor.
Expected Theme Impacts
Impact
Descri pti on
Impact
Descr ipt ion
Social
Society will benefit from more environmentally friendly farming op-
erations, which will ensure compatibility between current land-use
activities and the envisaged deployment of the bio-based economy.
Water abstractions and consumptive use will not limit other societal
water uses.
Economic
Agricultural and forest productivity will increase if appropriate meas-
ures (aimed at reducing soil and water pollution and at enhancing re-
source efficiency) are taken. Today, the European bio-economy
(standard and innovative applications) is already worth more than
€2 trillion annually and employs over 22 million people. The imple-
mentation of a water-wise bio-based economy will create more em-
ployment opportunities and wealth.
Technological
Development of new agricultural and forest practices, and blue
biotechnology.
Environmental
Better use and protection of European natural resources, substanti-
ated in the protection of water levels in aquifers and lakes, and dis-
charge in streams. Additionally, environmental water quality will
improve due to actions targeting farming and forest pollution.
Policy
This theme supports: (i) the European Bio-economy Strategy, re-
leased by the European Commission in 2012; (ii) the priority recom-
mendations from the Lead Market Initiative (LMI) for bio-based
products; (iii) the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP); (iv) a wide va-
riety of national policies targeting water quality, and the agriculture
and forestry sectors.
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