Press release
Minister Smyth launches Bioeconomy Ireland Week 2024
From Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
Published on
Last updated on
Minister of State Ossian Smyth, with responsibility for Communications and Circular Economy at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, has launched 'Bioeconomy Ireland Week 2024', which is taking place from 14 to 20 October.
The bioeconomy is the part of the economy that preserves nature and uses renewable biological resources from agriculture, forestry, marine and the organic waste system to produce food, feed, biobased materials, chemicals and energy, while reducing waste.
This year's Bioeconomy Ireland Week is the largest yet, with over 30 individual events scheduled, building on successful weeks over the last five years. Bioeconomy Ireland Week will place a spotlight on Ireland’s bioeconomy through these events and activities taking place nationwide and online for citizens, primary producers, industry professionals and policymakers who make up the Irish bioeconomy.
The week's events will showcase the positive contribution Ireland’s bioeconomy makes to our lives, with the theme of this year’s Bioeconomy Ireland Week as 'Demonstrating Biobased Solutions for a Greener Ireland'.
Minister Smyth said:
"Moving to a circular bioeconomy offers a sustainable alternative to the current model and Ireland is fully committed to making this transition. Bioeconomy Ireland Week 2024 is an essential activity in raising awareness and knowledge of the bioeconomy. Building a circular bioeconomy can mitigate climate change, enhance resilience, protect biodiversity and improve water and air quality, all while fostering rural development and a just transition."
The weeklong series of events is coordinated by the Irish Bioeconomy Network, which is led by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine.
Planned events cover a range of topics such as: demonstrating bio-based solutions; and finding funding for a circular bioeconomy, marine and the blue bioeconomy, rural communities and youth involvement. For full details on events taking place around Ireland visit the Bioeconomy Ireland Week website.
ENDS
Ireland’s Bioeconomy Action Plan 2023-2025 was published by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in October 2023 on the Government of Ireland website. The National Policy Statement on the Bioeconomy was published by the Department of the Taoiseach in 2018 and can be found on the Government of Ireland website.
Bioeconomy Ireland Week is an annual, week-long event held each October to highlight and raise awareness of Ireland’s rapidly growing bioeconomy. The celebration is a collaboration of events and awareness raising initiatives involving industry, primary producers, universities, researchers, local authorities, students, and local communities throughout Ireland. The awareness-raising week is coordinated by the Irish Bioeconomy Network around a central theme.
The Irish Bioeconomy Network is coordinated by the Bioeconomy Implementation and Development Group via the co-chairing departments and secretariat. The network consists of leading organisations, centres, clusters and programmes such as the SFI BiOrbic Bioeconomy Research Centre, the Enterprise Ireland Irish Bioeconomy Foundation, Circular Bioeconomy Cluster South-west, Circular Bioeconomy Research Group, Shannon ABC, Teagasc and the Marine Institute. All organisations within the network seek to promote engagement, raise awareness of the bioeconomy and support its advancing development with a wide range of stakeholders.