Harnessing biosolutions for a sustainable and prosperous future: A call to action for the new European Parliament and upcoming Commission [Promoted content]

With the European Parliament elections concluded, 720 MEPs have been entrusted by European citizens to deliver on critical issues such as Co2 reductions, food security, job creation, and the overall well-being and security of Europeans in an increasingly unstable world. That is an immense responsibility. But I expect you – as policy makers of the EU – to take this responsibility seriously.

Sofie Carsten Nielsen is the Director of the European Biosolutions Coalition.

Biosolutions – microscopic solutions with enormous potential

Addressing all these challenges may seem daunting. Luckily, nature has given us the tools to do so: Biosolutions. Biosolutions combine biology and technology, leveraging microorganisms through fermentation, precision fermentation and bio refinement to tackle climate and environmental problems and enhance food security. They can replace current fossil-based solutions with sustainable alternatives, such as bioplastics made from grass, plant-based textiles, biological plant protection, and dairy products produced with microorganisms instead of animals – and much, much more. These solutions can therefore contribute significantly to the green transition in Europe and globally.

If all known biosolutions were scaled up to full production by 2030, we could reduce 8% of today’s global Co2 emissions1. Just think about all the biosolutions that are in the pipeline. Furthermore, if just 10% of the world’s animal proteins were replaced with sustainable proteins from microbiological production, we could save 700 million tons of CO2 and free up 900,000 square kilometers of agricultural land2. This could help us restore nature and improve soil health, biodiversity, and marine ecosystems.

The biosolutions sector also offers substantial growth potential and the creation of many new green jobs. For each job within the biosolutions and biotech industry at large, additionally 3.2 jobs are created in the overall economy3. This is excellent news for the EU’s competitiveness and the well-being of current and future generations of European citizens. The production of biosolutions requires new production facilities often to be established outside of the major cities, paving the way for a truly green reindustrialization of Europe with significant development in rural areas. Moreover, we can produce raw materials biologically in Europe using plant-based input from European agriculture without being dependent on insecure global supply chains. Biosolutions are therefore crucial for the EU’s resilience and strategic autonomy.

Europe is losing its competitive edge

However, the full potential of biosolutions can only be released with political will. Many innovations are born in Europe, but do not get to grow up here. This is due to lengthy approval procedures in the EU, causing many European companies to move abroad where the time-to-market is shorter. Consequently, Europe is losing its competitive edge. Furthermore, biosolutions are currently regulated by outdated legislation that treats

microorganisms like fossil-based chemicals, ignoring the positive environmental and health impacts of biosolutions. This needs to change.

What can MEPs and the Commission do?

European companies are providing sustainable solutions, but as policy makers responsible for the welfare of current and future generations in Europe, you must take charge of accelerating the bio revolution in Europe. Citizens cannot demand biosolutions when current EU regulation keeps them from reaching the market. I therefore urge you to enact bold legislative actions to unlock the full potential of biosolutions in the EU.

We need significant investments in testing and scaling of biosolutions. Without the necessary facilities for this, European companies cannot achieve large-scale production, and start-ups struggle to transition from labs to full-scale production. The importance of these facilities cannot be understated. Investments in R&D for new biosolutions must also continue to be prioritized. By investing in R&D and scaling, we can position Europe as a global hub for biosolutions innovation, attracting further investment, fostering entrepreneurship, keeping European companies in Europe, and creating jobs for European citizens.

We also need a European model for market access. Approval procedures must be shortened, while at the same time taking the necessary measures to secure the safety of the solutions. Here it would be beneficial to adopt a product-centric approach rather than the current process-centric one. Regulatory sandboxes, for example on biological plant production, and the implementation of the EU’s Innovation Principle, are also needed.

The announced potential EU Biotech Act is a first step towards a sustainable and safe future in Europe powered by nature. However, we cannot afford to solve the climate crisis step by step – we need to speed up our efforts. With EU leadership in investing in the development and scaling of biosolutions and reducing time-to-market, we can accelerate the green transition in Europe and worldwide.

The time is now for a bio revolution

The time for action is now. The stakes are high, but so too is the potential for transformative change. My message to the newly elected MEPs and the next Commission is therefore: You must harness the power of biosolutions to pave the way for a sustainable and prosperous future. By prioritizing regulatory reforms, increasing investments, and embracing innovation, we can catalyze a bio revolution that benefits both people and the planet.