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Bioeconomy

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Overview

SPACE FOR THE BIOECONOMY

Supporting sustainable and circular practices in the bioeconomy through space

 

The bioeconomy is a dynamic and progressive field that brings together technological advancements, policy frameworks, and innovative practices to promote a sustainable future trajectory for our economy. It is defined as the sustainable production, utilisation, and conservation of biological resources—such as crops, woody biomass, algae, and marine organisms—encompassing knowledge, science, technology, and innovation to deliver sustainable solutions across all economic sectors.

Driven by increased environmental awareness and promising economic opportunities, the bioeconomy leverages renewable biological resources and new technologies to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, mitigate climate change, and promote resource efficiency. It plays a crucial role in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the climate change targets, while also stimulating knowledge-based economic growth, generating employment, fostering innovation, enhancing community development, and improving food security and health.

Vision

ESA's  Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) programme sees a future where innovative space-based technologies revolutionise sustainability in the bioeconomy.

By fostering technological advancements and nurturing cross-sectoral collaborations, we aim to contribute to a circular society that meets global needs for food, energy, and resources.

Our commitment extends to preserving ecosystems and achieving net-zero emissions, ensuring a sustainable and prosperous planet for generations to come.

Sign up for the Bioeconomy Bulletin

Challenges

The challenges facing the bioeconomy are many and varied. Space technologies are helping address some of the major topics including:

 

Sustainable Agriculture

Sustainable Forestry

Sustainable Pharmaceuticals

Crop management and resilience
Precision agriculture
Soil health and fertility
Irrigation efficiency 
Pest and disease management
Agri-tech solutions
Farm financial services
Sustainable farming
 
Pests and disease management
Soil recovery and preservation
(Wild)fire, flooding and other natural disaster mitigation
Carbon trading
Carbon capture & Biomass estimation
Biomass as a fuel
 
 
JIT services to reduce number of outdated drugs
Collection of expired drugs
Tracking effects associated with correct disposal of expired drugs
Reducing environmental impact of manufacturing
Machinery assessments
Optimising energy requirements

 

 

Sustainable Textiles

Waste Management

Water Resources

Sustainable fibre production
Textile recycling and upcycling
Energy efficiency in textile manufacturing
Waste management and reduction
Innovative bio-based textiles
Sustainable supply chain
Water reduction
Recycling and resource recovery
Organic waste management
Hazardous waste management
Waste-to-energy technologies
EPR tools
Electronic waste management
Plastic pollution and microplastics management

Digitising water basins to improve water resilience
Large scale monitoring solutions
Water sustainability
Reduced water footprint
Improved resource efficiency
Net positive water impact 
 

 

 

How can space help the bioeconomy?

Space-based services and digitisation technologies are frequently viewed as a key driver in transforming productive sectors of the bioeconomy. Some of the many use cases of space assets include:

 

 

Satellite Communications (Satcom)

Applications in the bioeconomy sector can use satcom technology to:

  • provide internet access to rural and remote agriculture, silviculture, and fisheries
  • integrate satellite data with IoT sensors for real-time monitoring and management of farm operations
  • support automated equipment and machinery
  • help producers and farmers access market prices, weather forecasts, and best practices through mobile and internet services
  • connect producers with buyers and suppliers to streamline the supply chain
  • automate irrigation systems based on soil moisture data and weather predictions
Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS/Satnav)

Satnav systems can help with many aspects of the bioeconomy by:

  • using GPS collars and IoT sensors to monitor livestock health, location, and behaviour
  • using machine learning algorithms to optimize planting schedules and crop rotation plans
  • optimising waste collection services
  • enhancing traceability and transparency in the supply chain through leveraging blockchain technology, tracking product lifecycles
  • ensuring authenticity and quality of organic and sustainably produced goods
Satellite Earth Observation (SatEO) and Remote Sensing (RS)

SatEO and RS can be used to: 

  • assess crop / forest health, detection of diseases, and prediction of yields
  • monitor soil moisture levels and optimization of irrigation
  • track deforestation, desertification, and biodiversity loss
  • monitor water quality and levels in reservoirs and rivers
  • support climate change mitigation efforts by providing advanced analytics for yield prediction and risk management across productive sectors
  • identify and monitor landfill sites suitable for methane capture

 

Socio-economic Impact

Over the past ten years, around 50% of the BASS Portfolio has been driven by the Green Transformation and this number is growing rapidly.

The figures below relate to projects carried out in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors:

 

Bioeconomy Initiatives

From sustainable agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and bioenergy production, the impact of space technology has massive potential. ESA has supported numerous projects in recent years, helping to transform various sectors of the bioeconomy.

 

Bioeconomy Task Force

ESA officially launched the Space for Bioeconomy Task Force in October 2024. Its main focus will be to bring key stakeholders from the various bioeconomy sectors together to address the challenges they face around sustainability.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE BIOECONOMY TASK FORCE

Work with us

We work closely with a wide range of stakeholders across multiple sectors to deliver innovative solutions to the challenges facing the bioeconomy. These include users, service providers, institutions, investors and more.

To find out more about ESA's work with the bioeconomy or to get involved please contact the bioeconomy team lead, Beatrice Barresi, on business@esa.int.

 

Find out more about our funding opportunities

 

Sign up for our Bioeconomy Bulletin

News and Events

All eyes were on space at Harwell this week, as more than 200 delegates from across Europe and beyond joined ESA’s Business Applications…

Last month, the InnoSPACE Masters Final Event took place in Berlin, Germany, bringing visionary startups, SMEs, and established…

Farming is an increasingly challenging endeavour, with farmers not only having to respond to the needs of a growing population, but also…

The European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) programme this week launched its Bioeconomy Task…

Tropical forestry and agroforestry markets are significant and growing rapidly, as demand for food, fuel, timber and other agroforest…

The European Space Agency and the CEO Water Mandate will use space-based data to monitor some of the world’s most water stressed basins…