I have been aware of the research being carried out at Farm Zero C in West Cork for some time. Officials from my Department along with the National Bioeconomy Forum have also visited the site.
The research carried out under Farm Zero C, in combination with Irish universities, is paving a way for farmers to utilise new methods and technologies for decarbonising the sector and our wider economy.
The bioeconomy is the part of our economy which uses renewable resources such as crops, forestry, and fisheries to produce food, products, and energy, while also reducing waste.
In 2018, the National Policy Statement on the Bioeconomy identified the bioeconomy as a key mechanism to drive both rural employment and economic development. Biological resources are distributed widely across rural, coastal, marine and regional areas. The bioeconomy offers opportunities for a just transition and will be essential in the decarbonisation of our economy.
To support this, a Bioeconomy Action Plan 2023-2025 will be published soon. This plan will set the direction of travel for our bioeconomy during the coming years and will seek to deliver the vision outlined for the sector in the National Policy Statement on the Bioeconomy.
