The Irish Bioeconomy Forum continues its mission to support the Irish transition to a bioeconomy.
4th March 2024
Dr Gaia Scalabrino, Executive Director of NatPro at Trinity College Dublin, joins the Irish Bioeconomy Forum Steering Group
The Department of Environment, Climate and Communication (DECC) & Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM) have renewed the Irish Bioeconomy Forum to 2025 advancing the mission to promote and support the sustainable development of the bioeconomy in Ireland.
Today the first meeting of the renewed Forum took place, bringing together multi-disciplinary stakeholders from different sectors to address the Bioeconomy Action Plan 2023-2025.
'Joining the Irish Bioeconomy Forum Steering Group is an exciting opportunity to support Ireland’s transition to a bioeconomy, contributing with expertise at the intersection of science, regulations and sustainable development, which are embedded at the NatPro Centre, based in the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Trinity College Dublin. It is an exciting time to be working in the area of Natural Products Research, supporting initiatives that promise not only to advance Ireland's economic competitiveness, but also to ensure the sustainability of its natural resources for generations to come. The Bioeconomy Forum demonstrates the importance of collaboration, innovation and policy, steering Ireland towards a future where the economy and the environment thrive in harmony.’ said Dr Gaia Scalabrino.
The bioeconomy represents a unique opportunity for Ireland to leverage its rich natural resources, cutting-edge research and vibrant community of innovators towards creating a more sustainable circular bioeconomy. The first Irish Bioeconomy Forum report, issued in 2023 during the first mandate 2021-2023, underscores the importance of sustainability, circularity and cooperation, highlighting the bioeconomy's potential to reduce carbon footprints, conserve biodiversity and stimulate economic growth through green innovation. The report also addresses challenges, including the need for a supportive regulatory framework, enhancing investments in research, skills and innovation, along with developing competitive markets, business models and scale-up/pilot-scale bioeconomy facilities.
More about the Irish Bioeconomy Forum can be found at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/42b83-the-bioeconomy/