| New EU Commission Initiative supports bioplastics |
 A new Lead Market Initiative for bio-based products is aimed at creating dynamic market conditions which allow industry to develop lead markets in Europe. According to the European Association for Bioindustries (EuropaBio) the new EU Communication will provide for important support in the areas of bio-based products, such as enzymes, biochemicals such as bio-based building-blocks or bioplastics. EuropaBio states that by developing support policies and measures that will stimulate the demand for these products, this new policy will encourage innovation for bio-based products by transforming knowledge into new bioproducts and bioprocesses.
Over the last two years the biotech industry has supported the European Commission to work out a set of concrete steps to realise the vision of a Knowledge-Based Bio-Economy (KBBE), where biotechnology's new, clean, energy-efficient processes and innovative biobased products create a sustainable industrial base to ensure Europe's future prosperity. EuropaBio's "Industrial Biotechnology Policy Agenda for Europe" (http://www.europabio.org/TPWhite/policy_agenda_web.pdf) produced an outline of policy recommendations to develop a competitive KBBE in Europe, but recognized that in order for these recommendations to be implemented, political support was needed. "This Lead Market Initiative is the first step in the process of active political support and incentives that will help Europe reap the full benefits of the knowledge based bio-economy. We are pleased that the Commission has adopted an integrated approach bringing together all the major policy areas - such as research and innovation, environment, agriculture, industry, transport and energy - to develop a common action plan in this area. We encourage the Commission and the Member States to follow-up this Communication with concrete actions to provide full benefits and increased competitiveness for the European market." said Ian Hudson, President - DuPont Europe, Middle East & Africa and Chair of EuropaBio's Industrial Biotech Council. Developing an innovation driven economy is at the core of the Lisbon partnership for growth and jobs. Encouraging public procurement for bio-based products, stimulating the demand via standards, developing an information and communication campaign explaining the benefits of these products, and looking for specific financial support for the establishment of biorefinery pilot and demonstration plants will certainly stimulate the development, production and uptake of bio-based products in Europe. Source: Press release, EuropaBio Bookmark this page!      |
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