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Circular Bioeconomy Day
24th of October, Tuesday

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Wondering how to support closed-loop bioeconomy development with the help of an ecosystem? Does surplus foods really need to end up in the trash? Industrial symbiosis holds great potential for businesses, human well-being, and the planet's health. 

 

If we don't change the ways we use Earth's resources, humanity will require three Earths to meet its needs by 2050. This is impossible, so we must do everything to protect our riches and start respecting nature — all in the spirit of international cooperation.

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The "Farm to Fork" strategy presented by the European Commission in May 2020 aims to create a just and an environmentally friendly food system, while protecting the livelihoods of farmers. Crucially, the challenges outlined in this strategy, such as reducing pesticide, antibiotic, and fertilizer use, and increasing organic farming, clearly prioritize both human and planetary health. Our lives and the Earth's health are interconnected.

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Banana peels, potato skins, fruit scraps, and unused vegetables are valuable resources. Compost derived from these materials serves as an excellent alternative to artificial fertilizers and harmful peat. Likewise, reducing pesticides benefits not only humans, but also insects whose role in the ecosystems is invaluable. Utilizing organic waste brings benefits across various industries. Biogas derived from it can replace fossil fuels in electricity generation and offers a sustainable future for the textile industry. Plant-based materials like banana waste have been used in clothing production for years. Are we doing enough to transition towards a circular bioeconomy? How do we end food waste and what can we do to minimize losses? What challenges do representatives of institutions operating in this field currently face? We sought answers to all these questions with our experts during Bioeconomy Day. 

 

We also had the opportunity to explore a kitchen where food was not wasted but actively helped those in need, following a circular model. Filip Lundin's live demonstration at Stockholm's Sopköket was under the theme "Great Taste, Zero Waste!" Filip showcased how to prepare a delicious, nutritious meal from food leftovers while explaining how to minimize waste, eat healthily, and contribute to the world. "Food waste is a major climate issue," emphasized Filip Lundin. Sopköket operated consciously on many levels, from sourcing organic, local ingredients to efficient circular use, sustainable packaging, and transportation. It was an ideal example of a closed-loop economy.

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Can we change the future? Let's start now.

AGENDA:

9:30 – 11.30  | Session 1. Opening session: Systemic ecosystem for circular bioeconomy development national bioeconomy strategies 

Discussion among UE Policymakers, Regional government representatives,  local administration, business, NGO and academia about circular bioeconomy strategies  and its role in circular economy transformation.

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Introductory presentations:

  1. Tomasz Calikowski, PhD, European Commission, Policy Officer, Research & Innovation, Healthy Planet, Circular Economy and Biobased Systems,

  2. Maria Nikolopoulou, Member of the Trade Union Confederation of Workers' Commissions and President of the Association for the Development of Time Banks, EESC member, Workers' Group (Group II) and NAT Vice-President (online),

  3. “The Future of Bioeconomy for the European Agriculture”, Laurent Bleuze, Copa Cogeca,

  4. “Valorization of Industrial Waste: Opportunities and Challenges”, dr Vignesh Kumaravel International Centre for Research on Innovative Bio-based Materials, Lekshmi Gopakumari Satheesh Chandran Ph.D., Post-doctoral researcher,

  5. “How the BIOEASTsUP Project Shapes the Future of Polish Bioeconomy” - dr hab. Jerzy Kozyra Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation (IUNG),

  6. Pauline Buffing, Policy officer, Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Government of the Netherlands (online).

 

Moderation: Agnieszka Sznyk, INNOWO
 

Panel discussion:

  1. Andrzej Grzyb - Member of Parliament,

  2. Laurent Bleuze - Copa Cogeca,

  3. Tomasz Calikowski, PhD - European Commission, Policy Officer, Research & Innovation, Healthy Planet, Circular Economy and Biobased Systems.

  4. MaÅ‚gorzata BojaÅ„czyk - Director of  the Association for Sustainable Agriculture & Food in Poland

  5. Antony Buchan - Head of Local Authority Support, ReLondon 

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11.30 - 11.45  |  Coffee break

 

11:45 – 13:00  |  Session 2. Circular Food Hub to tackle food waste in the cities, plant based product development.

Development of food hubs integrate circularity and food loss and waste prevention. It need collaboration between local communities, businesses and municipalities in the local neighborhood. 

 

Introductory presentation:

  • "EIT Food: Innovating and Collaborating for a More Sustainable and Circular Food System." Ewa Rzeszowska, EIT FOOD
     

Keynote speeches:

  1. “The role of education on Food Circularity” - Simona Grande, Università di Torino (online).

  2. “How to best collect biowaste from households” - Theresa Mörsen, Waste & Resources Policy Officer, Zero Waste Europe (ZWE) (online).

  3. "Bioeconomy in Action: How Living Labs Drive Circular Economy Solutions",   Madalina Branisca, IRCEM (online).

  4. “Circular economy, a model for increased financial profits”, Filip Lundin, Sopköket.

  5. “Engaging stakeholders for the circular urban bioeconomy and replicating good practices in the HOOP and FoodLoops project” - Daniela Chaves, Carina Diedrich, CSCP (online). 

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13:00 – 14.00  | Lunch with life cooking 

Title: “How to minimize food waste at home in a fun way”, 

  • Filip Lundin, founder of Sopköket 

  • MichaÅ‚ GodyÅ„, chef at the Embassy of Sweden


14.00 – 15.30  | Session 3. Industrial symbiosis – biowaste and biomass as a source of energy, textiles, construction material, packaging 

Potato, carrot and banana peels are true resources. The compost they make can replace chemical fertilizers and climate-damaging peat. Biogas generated from biowaste can substitute fossil fuels in the production of electricity and heating. it protects our climate, and stands for careful stewardship of our resources. During the session we will discuss new technology and potentials for its scaling up

 

Moderation: Michał Siwek BNP Paribas

Introductory presentation: 

  • ”Recovery of bioenergy from industrial meat wastes” in the framework of the AccelWater project”, Lidia Paredes. Post-doctoral researcher at BETA Technological Center (UVic-UCC) (online).

  • "Enhancing Economic Competitiveness through Local Industrial Symbiosis: A Practical Methodology", Armin Winter, Alchemia - Nova (15 min)

  • “CBE JU as a catalyst for innovation in the biobased sector: the example of the textile project portfolio”, Simone Maccaferri (CBE JU)  (15min), 

  • Paul Davidson, Director of the Smart Sustainable, Plastics Packaging (SSPP) Programme, UKRI,

 

Power speeches:

  • EcoBean, Kacper Kossowski,

  • Protix, Maurice Brenninkmeijer.

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