In 2023, the Italian bioeconomy has generated 437,5 billion euros in 2023, 9,3 billion more than the previous year, involving around two million people. This is what emerges from “The bioeconomy in Europe” report di Understanding St. Paul in collaboration with the Spring cluster and Assobiotec Federchimica, to which Cosmetica Italia also contributed this year (again within Federchimica).
The report, which has arrived tenth edition and presented in Ravenna, highlights the continuous growth of the bioeconomy, which is stimulating innovation in sectors of chemistry e of agri-food. Over the last year, 808 innovative start-ups were registered, representing 6,6% of registered companies. Most of these operate in the field of research and development (R&D), with 45%, and in the agri-food sector, with 25%.
The analysis includes sectors such as agriculture, forestry, fishing, wood, paper, chemistry, rubber-plastic, as well as food, clothing, furniture and pharmaceuticals but also bioenergy, biofuels, the water cycle and waste.
The tenth report "The bioeconomy in Europe" by Intesa Sanpaolo
The report offers an international comparison between Italy, France, Germany e Spain, highlighting that the bioeconomy is worth a total of 1.751 billion euros, representing 8,4% of the total economy in the four countries. Spain (11%) and Italy (10%) record the highest incidences.
After the boom of 2022, in 2023 the bioeconomy continued to grow at a more moderate pace, with a change in output of 0,2% in the four EU countries, showing better performances in Spain, France and Italy compared to Germany. Italy and France recorded increases of more than 20% compared to 2021 in the value of production.
La food supply chain plays a central role, representing over 76% of the organic economy in Spain and France, around 63% in Italy and 61% in Germany, being fundamental in the transition towards more sustainable processes. Italian companies in the food sector, smaller but very innovative, show a high rate of production innovation (20%, compared to the 12% EU27 average) and process innovation (36%, with an advantage of over 15 percentage points compared to the main competitors).
In the context of the bioeconomy, Italy emerges as the seventh world patenter, with significant growth in recent years thanks to an innovative system that also embraces sectors such as mechanics, pharmaceuticals and chemicals.
Comments
Stefania Trentino, head of Industry and Local Economies research at Intesa Sanpaolo, underlined the importance of the report on the bioeconomy, which this year reaches its tenth edition. He highlighted the strong interest in activities that use renewable biological resources, with Italy among the 21 countries that have adopted strategies for the sustainable development of bio-based supply chains. Public policies are fundamental to support and enhance business investments, which are increasingly oriented towards the transition towards production and consumption models that are more attentive to the environment".
Catia Bastioli, president of the Spring Cluster, confirmed the strategic value of the bioeconomy as an innovation engine to accelerate the ecological transition. You cited the conclusions of the European Council and the words of Margrethe Vestager, Vice President of the EU Commission, on the fundamental importance of the bioeconomy for the competitiveness and modernization of European industry.
Elena Sgaravatti, vice-president of Assobiotec Federchimica, described biosolutions as key technologies for a bio-based circular economy, with a positive impact on sectors such as construction, textiles and food and energy production. He called for a clear European regulatory framework and a robust industrial strategy to facilitate rapid access to these solutions.
Michele DePascale, mayor of Ravenna, e Annagiulia Randi, councilor for economic development of the Municipality of Ravenna, emphasized Ravenna's role as a protagonist in the European bioeconomy. They highlighted the local industrial district already active in the circular economy and the potential offered by the university center and the port of Ravenna for sustainable development and technological innovation.
