The European Commission's Joint Research Centre has published a new Science for Policy brief with up-to-date figures on the European bioeconomy. The publication shows how significant its economic importance has become and where its growth is coming from.
In 2023, biomass production and processing sectors together generated €863 billion in added value. This represents approximately five percent of Europe's GDP. Two-thirds of this value comes from bio-based manufacturing. Food and beverages, plus other agromanufacturing, account for €305 billion. Biopharmaceuticals contribute €102 billion, wood and furniture €61 billion, paper €52 billion, and bio-based textiles €29 billion. Bio-based chemicals account for €14 billion, and plastics and rubber for almost €4 billion.
Jobs shift within the chain
Employment in the bioeconomy amounts to 17,1 million jobs, nearly eight percent of all jobs in the EU. Since 2013, the total number of jobs has declined, particularly in agriculture. Growth in industry has partially offset this. Food processing will account for 4,8 million jobs in 2023. Relatively small segments, such as bioelectricity and liquid biofuels, showed the fastest growth. Overall, the share of biobased industry in total employment remained stable, while its contribution to GDP increased from 4,6 to five percent.
If you include related services associated with bio-based goods and activities, the bioeconomy grows significantly. Within this broader definition, the added value ranges between €1,9 and €2,7 trillion, representing eleven to sixteen percent of GDP. Employment then falls between 42 and 60 million jobs, nineteen to twenty-eight percent of the total. The JRC uses ranges here due to methodological uncertainties and data gaps in some sectors.
R&D as an engine for scaling up
Companies in biomass production and processing sectors spent an estimated €17,3 billion on research and development in 2023. If related knowledge-intensive activities are included, this amounts to €23,2 billion. The trend since 2013 shows an increasing contribution to GDP and R&D, indicating a stronger innovation base.
The JRC determines the bio-based share per sector at the product level and aggregates this to NACE sectors. Fully bio-based activities are included in their entirety, while partially bio-based sectors receive a weighted share. Some activities, such as bioheat, parts of construction, and waste processing, are not fully included in the key figures due to limited data. In the broader services definition, the JRC addresses this with interval estimates.
Meaning for the Netherlands
The figures underscore the importance of Dutch clusters in agrifood, paper and wood, and knowledge-intensive manufacturing. Growth opportunities lie in biotechnology, improved access to pilot facilities, and faster permitting. The publication thus aligns with the commitment of the new European strategy, which aims to remove barriers and improve financing for scaling up.
Source: JRC Publications Repository
