CEE2ACT Report on sustainability assessment of the bioeoconomy concepts

To maximize the bioeconomy’s potential, all sectors—including agriculture, forestry, aquaculture, and biotechnology—must be equally considered, along with their respective products such as food, feed, wood, and biobased goods. Evaluations of bioeconomy strategies must align with national frameworks and account for diverse stakeholder interests. A collaborative approach was adopted to assess relevant options and indicators, identifying challenges and potentials in each of the 10 target countries through a baseline assessment. Feasibility and sustainability of options were evaluated using nine indicators covering environmental, social, and economic dimensions. Environmental indicators utilized Life Cycle Assessments, while quantitative assessments analyzed renewable energy and biomass production. Social indicators like consumer acceptance and economic factors like willingness to pay were gauged through surveys. Key findings highlighted that locally tailored solutions yield varying results. On average, the most sustainable options included central and small-scale heating plants, food waste reduction, sustainable diets, and nature tourism. Options like insect farming and inland aquaculture had lower feasibility due to limited acceptance or biomass yield.