1 of 10 5/2/2011 6:05 PM Consultation "Bio-based economy for Europe: state of play and future potential" I. Respondent's profile 1. Are you answering as an individual or on behalf of an organisation or an institution? If you are responding on behalf of an organisation or an institution I am answering on behalf of an organisation or an institution (business organisation, NGO, public authority, etc.) I represent a non-governmental organisation/associations of NGOs (excluding consumer association) 2. What is your main professional field (choose no more than 2) Please enter your response Peace, Human Rights, Sustainable Energy Security Energy and bio-fuels Other (please specify) 3. Please provide the country of your workplace Belgium 4. Name and contact details NB: the questionnaire will be available for your contributions only if name and contact details are provided. Please note, however, that in the next question, you may opt for the option for your contribution to be treated anonymously. If you choose, however, not to provide your name and contact details, we invite you to provide us you re your general comment up to 2000 characters only. Yes, I will provide my name and contact details 5. Please provide your name/name of organisation/postal address/telephone/e-mail) Quaker Council for European Affairs (QCEA), Square Ambiorix 50, B-1000, Brussels, Belgium. QCEA is registered on the European Commission s Register of Interest Representatives, identification number: 3960234639-24 Phone: +32 2 234 3062. Email: rtansey@qcea.org 6. Received contributions together with the identity of the contributor, may be published on the Commission's website. Do you agree to your contribution being published under your name? My contribution can be published under the name indicated II. European bio-based economy potential benefits and risks 1. What are the potential benefits of the bio-based economy and when might they be achieved? Secure the availability of sufficient, safe and quality food Contribute to food and non-food security through sustainable practices in developing countries
2 of 10 5/2/2011 6:05 PM Reduce the pressures on natural resources (including land, water, biodiversity) Support new bio-based industries and the greening of traditional industries Reduce waste and pollution Increase the uses of bio-waste and other waste streams Improve the supply of European sourced bio-fuels Contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (including CO 2 ) and adaptation to climate change Improve the efficiency of ecosystem services Provide adequate biomass supply chains Improve productivity in agriculture Provide agricultural advisory services and/or knowledge transfer systems to farmers Sustainably increase production and reduce market losses in agriculture Sustainably increase production in, and market share of aquaculture Promote a shift to healthy diets in society Promote a shift to sustainable consumption and the reduction of waste in society Provide tangible consumer benefits from modern biotechnological products Reinforce European leadership in the bio-based sciences Create sustainable growth and jobs in the bio-based economy Contribute to meeting global commitments and goals, e.g. in relation to climate change and the Millennium Development Goals Other potential benefits (please specify) By when these goals could be achieved, by means of a vaguely defined term, the bio-based economy, is an impossible question, indicating an attempt to legitimize the concept without being clear on what it is, who benefits from it economically, how realistic the scientific assumptions are, relying on uncritical promotion of technical solutions to social, environmental, health and economic problems 2. Some potential risks might be foreseen from an expansion of the European bio-based economy in the future. Please rank each potential risk in order of importance. Food security and resources in Europe put 2
3 of 10 5/2/2011 6:05 PM under pressure because of increased production for non-food use Food security and resources in developing countries put under pressure because of increased production for non-food use 1 extremely important Increased land prices 4 Overexploitation of natural resources and decreasing biodiversity Difficulties in achieving the energy-climate targets for renewable energy due to lack of biomass supply Increased deforestation due to food and non-food production Increase of agricultural pollution and greenhouse gas emissions Negative consequences from expanding aquaculture on coastal areas Additional pressure on wild fish stocks due to the promotion of fish-based diets 1 extremely important 5 least important 1 extremely important 1 extremely important 2 2 Other potential risks (Please specify) EU promotion of biofuels in the RED and FQD, esp.10% transport fuel, undermines EU climate targets. Failure to include ILUC in sustainability criteria means many biofuels increase GHG emissions, and push up food prices and indigenous people off their land. The Commission must include feedstock specific ILUC factors in their GHG lifecycle calculation methodology, based on best available science 3. In your opinion, is there a need for further action to realise the full potential of the bio-based economy? Agree, but the initiatives should be taken at both EU and 4. How would you rate European policy areas in terms of their potential/importance in building a sustainable bio-based economy? Agriculture and rural development policy Environmental policy Industrial policy Climate change policy Maritime and fisheries policy Transport policy Energy policy Health and consumer policy Trade policy Regional policy Less important Less important
4 of 10 5/2/2011 6:05 PM Employment and social policy Less important Research and innovation policy Less important III. The European bio-based economy today 1. How do you perceive research and innovation in the European bio-based economy today? Strengthening implementation of the European Research Area and improving coordination of national research programmes Providing a knowledge base for addressing European societal challenges Providing a knowledge base for addressing societal challenges faced by developing countries and emerging economies Enhancing cooperation at a global scale for addressing global challenges Translating research recommendations into policy Providing an innovation base for production and distribution systems Development of a standard life cycle analysis of products and processes Translating research into innovative marketable products and new farming/production practices Translating research into behavioural change (e.g. a shift towards healthier diets and more sustainable consumption patterns) Providing knowledge base for society expectations in the bio-based economy Ensuring the availability of required skills through adequate education and training R&D in Europe focuses too heavily on biotechnology and biogenics, and other technological fixes to environmental and social problems rather than engaging in research into root causes, social dynamics, behavioral change, consumption patterns related to over-consumption of energy and resources in a finite world. R&D into a sustainable and fair society must prioritise the latter much more 2. What do you consider to be the main barriers that are preventing successful functioning of the European bio-based economy today? Insufficient links between decision makers and stakeholders from the bio-based economy sectors (e.g. agriculture, fisheries,
5 of 10 5/2/2011 6:05 PM food, non food, consumers) Insufficient links between policies related to bio-based economy Difficulties related to implementation of sectoral and horizontal EU policies Lack of long term horizon scanning/foresight and impact analysis in decision making Cost and complexity of patenting in Europe Gaps in regulation Too much existing regulation Insufficient implementation of existing regulations Inadequate level of standards/ certification/labelling Insufficient loans and/or venture capital for research/demonstration/technology development Insufficient availability of venture capital for business ventures Public procurement rules not promoting the use of renewable materials/bio-based products Lack of adequate infrastructures and supply chains Heavy burden of administration impeding SMEs Lack of market and/or consumer demand for bio-based products Negative impacts of incentives towards bio-fuels on the price of raw materials for bio-based products Production of industrial raw materials from biowaste not included in organic waste regulations Current application of precautionary principle Lack of agreement on sustainability criteria Skills gaps Societal concerns/negative attitudes towards biotechnologies Significant but only at national level Not significant
6 of 10 5/2/2011 6:05 PM Current application of precautionary principles is non-negotiable: it is enshrined in the Lisbon Treaty and is a crucial tenet of how humans interact with the environment they rely on. Uneven not insufficient links between decision makers and stakeholders is the problem-too many with vested, commercial interests, not enough with citizens, scientists, ecologists, non-commercial experts 3. How do you perceive the participation of society and their acceptance of the European bio-based economy: availability of information tools and debate? Availability and quality of information on current and future environmental impacts Availability and quality of information on current and future health impacts Availability and quality of information on the current and future availability of natural resources Availability and quality of information on available bio-products Education/incentives to encourage a shift to healthier diets Education/incentives to encourage sustainable consumption patterns Tools for public dialogue on benefits, costs and risks of the bio-based economy Tools for addressing the ethical concerns of advanced technologies The participation of society and society s acceptance of the European bio-based economy are different things. Public opinion should be informed, but information does not automatically translate into acceptance there must be room for critical scrutiny and debate, dissenting opinions, consideration of alternative approaches, and crucially, taking public opinions into account in decisions. IV. A European strategy on a sustainable bio-based economy: advantages and possible future actions 1. In your opinion, what will be the main advantages of the European strategy on a sustainable bio-based economy? Securing a sufficient supply of food and biomass Integrated, sustainable agricultural, aquatic, and eco-system services Fostering the move towards a zero-waste society Shifting towards improving well-being through sustainable consumption Fostering effective governance and coordination Don't know Don't know Strongly agree Strongly agree Agree Creation of a coherent policy framework Agree
7 of 10 5/2/2011 6:05 PM Strengthening the research and innovation base Supporting bio-based markets and the creation economic growth and high-skill jobs Engaging with, and delivering benefits for, society Don't know Don't know Agree Criticisms in Sec2,Qu1 apply- QCEA has answered what should be the main priorities. Options that list several things can be vague or conflicting. Answering Don t know to Securing a sufficient supply of food and biomass reflects concern re. how biomass is secured, at what cost & for what use, and to Integrated, sustainable agricultural, aquatic, and eco-system services doubt over broadness 2. In your opinion, what are the actions necessary to create a coherent policy framework and foster effective governance and coordination? Provide a coordination mechanism for all relevant policy domains related to the bio-based economy Strengthen links between existing funding instruments for the promotion of the bio-based economy Create new funding instruments to enhance the growth of the bio-based economy Further develop the European Research Area and coordinate EU/national /regional research agendas Establish a European observatory for mapping of research activities and data in the bio-based economy Strengthen the bio-based economy through rural development plans Promote complementarity between public and private initiatives Adapt existing legislation to create an enabling environment for the bio-based economy Identify legal gaps and propose new legislative initiatives (e.g. in relation to wastes) Provide sustainability criteria and/or targets for policy makers and other stakeholders (e.g. in relation to wastes) Increase the level of research and innovation funding Foster interdisciplinary cooperation in the bio-based economy
8 of 10 5/2/2011 6:05 PM Binding, comprehensive and independently audited sustainability criteria must be put in place in all "bio-economy" areas. For example, the sustainability criteria in the RED should be made to include feedstock specific ILUC factors (based on, and evolving with, best available science), should be manditory and not merely self-monitored and reported on. 3. In your opinion, what research actions are necessary for implementing the European bio-based economy? Identify and support research on the key societal challenges in the EU Foster international cooperation in research on global societal challenges Support research on securing a sufficient supply of food and biomass Support research on integrated, sustainable agricultural, aquatic, and eco-system services Support research on fostering the move towards a zero-waste society Support research on shifting towards improving well-being through sustainable consumption Support research on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (including CO 2 ) Support research on systems of agriculture and aquaculture coping with predicted water shortages in view of climate change Provide instruments and systems for knowledge transfer Support research into industrial applications Foster industrial involvement in research and innovation projects (including SMEs) Build the knowledge base on socioeconomic impacts and support foresight activities Build the knowledge base on environmental impacts Build the knowledge base on impacts on developing countries and emerging economies Support research into ethical and legal aspects of new and emerging technologies
9 of 10 5/2/2011 6:05 PM Research should not be too narrowly defined, high-tech focused or commercially oriented, at the expense of other social, agricultural, lifestyle, traditional or practical knowledge bases. The importance of multi-disciplinary research, counter-expertise and lower-tech solutions must not be neglected. See GeneWatch Bioscience for Life? Who decides what research is done in health and agriculture? 4. Which are the actions necessary to support the development of bio-based markets, economic growth and sustainable employment? Propose incentives for industries trying to take innovative bio-products to market Encourage development of new market opportunities in rural and coastal areas Further develop public procurement related to awareness-raising of bio-based products Provide recognised standards for bio-based products Improve access to finance for research and innovation Simplify labelling and certification steps Upscale bio-energy promotion schemes to new generation bio-refineries Add more training and knowledge transfer components to research projects Support the mobility of researchers Outline future education and training needs Promote bio-sciences careers Promote bio-literacy through school curricula No further actions required There should be no up-scaling of bio-energy promotion schemes, without inclusion of ILUC, further examination of other social and environmental issues related to bio-energy/fuels, in and outside the EU. See IEEP Anticipated Indirect Land Use Change Associated with Expanded Use of Biofuels and Bioliquids in the EU Analysis of NREAPs and Nuffield Council on Bioethics Biofuels: ethical issues 5. Which are the actions necessary to better engage society and foster social innovation in the bio-based economy? Enhance actions related to communication and dissemination of information on the advantages and risks of the bio-based economy Create discussion platforms on bio-based economy activities for engaging with the wider public and civil society
10 of 10 5/2/2011 6:05 PM Improve information on bio-based products for consumers Provide incentives for consumers to buy sustainable bio-based products Fund research on consumer behaviour Promote social innovation in the agri-food chain such as local delivery of food, etc. Enhance actions to encourage healthier, sustainable consumption Enhance actions to reduce food waste in households and the food service industries Thank you for your participation. If you prefer, you can upload a position paper or comments using the following link: Meta Informations Creation date 02-05-2011 Last update date User name null Case Number 016217046081812211 Invitation Ref. Status N Language en