research and news
Discover the latest stories, ideas, and breakthroughs shaping Ireland’s greener, more sustainable future.
Policy
See how government decisions guide the bioeconomy and why these choices matter for our daily lives.
What is the Bioeconomy?
The bioeconomy is the part of the economy which uses renewable resources from agriculture, forestry and the marine to produce food, feed, materials and energy, while reducing waste, in support of achieving a sustainable and climate neutral society.
Farming & Crops
Growing food and raw materials in ways that protect the land, support farmers, and care for nature
Forestry
Using wood and forests responsibly to make products, store carbon, and protect wildlife habitats
Sea & Marine
Harnessing the ocean’s resources for food, energy, and materials while keeping our waters healthy
Waste & Recycling
Transforming waste into energy, products, and resources, reducing landfill and pollution
The Bioeconomy in Action
Algae: A Greener Fuel for the Skies
While air traffic continues to grow worldwide, reducing environmental pollution remains an urgent challenge. Algae-based biofuels offer a promising opportunity to reduce the aviation industry’s CO₂ emissions.
impact of air travel
In 2021, CO₂ emissions from aviation in Europe amounted to around 150 million tonnes, which corresponds to around 3.6% of the EU’s total greenhouse gas emissions.
Fossil fuel alternative
Algae have the ability to produce large amounts of lipids that can be converted into bio-kerosene. Compared to conventional paraffin, algae fuels could reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 70 %.
Interactive Maps
The Bioeconomy Ireland Map
The bioeconomy is all around us! It’s all the parts of the economy that reply on living, biological sources. Anything from animals, plants, micro-organisms (and their waste) the we can use to produce the things that society needs.
All you need is the ability to click a mouse. Simply choose a location to visit, and explore each learning point by looking for the pulsing dots. When you’ve finished looking around one location, tap the Ireland logo to return to the main map, and explore the next area.
Irish Bioeconomy Research 2025
Current projects working on advancing the Irish Bioeconomy
Learning about the bioeconomy
Current 3rd level courses related to the Irish bioeconomy
The Bioeconomy in Action
Reviving the value of Irish wool
Once a staple material in homes across Ireland, wool has been overtaken by synthetic alternatives—but the bioeconomy can offer solutions to change that.
Innovation Driving Wool’s Future
Through innovation and collaboration, Irish-grown wool is making a comeback. The Department’s Wool Feasibility Study in 2022 identified exciting bioeconomy opportunities for this sustainable, natural fibre, leading to the creation of the Irish Grown Wool Council.
Now, innovators like Dooleys Wool are bringing wool back into our homes with locally sourced pillows, duvets and mattress toppers. Kilkenny farmer Brian Nicholson, Teagasc’s Environmentally Sustainable Sheep Farmer of the Year 2024, is one of the many local farmers supporting this new business by supplying high-quality Irish fleece.
To accelerate this movement, we’ve invested over €500,000 in the SpringWool project at Munster Technological University, which will accelerate bio-based research and innovation in Irish grown wool.
Irish wool can have a bright future in Ireland, underpinned by sustainability, farmers local businesses and bioeconomy principles.
The Bioeconomy in Action
Turning Food Waste into Wellness
Food waste is a global challenge—nearly 25% of all food produced is wasted, contributing to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Tackling food waste starts with prevention, but also includes re-use, recycling and recovery of nutrients as set out in Ireland’s Food Waste Prevention Roadmap.
From Waste to Nutrition
BiaSol, a COVID-19 lockdown project, founded by siblings Niamh and Ruairi Dooley, is tackling the issue of food waste & sustainability head-on. Unlocking the principles of the bioeconomy, the company is transforming a brewing by-product—spent grain from Ballykilcavan Brewery – into nutritious, tasty ingredients for humans.
Now, innovators like Dooleys Wool are bringing wool back into our homes with locally sourced pillows, duvets and mattress toppers. Kilkenny farmer Brian Nicholson, Teagasc’s Environmentally Sustainable Sheep Farmer of the Year 2024, is one of the many local farmers supporting this new business by supplying high-quality Irish fleece.
To accelerate this movement, we’ve invested over €500,000 in the SpringWool project at Munster Technological University, which will accelerate bio-based research and innovation in Irish grown wool.
Irish wool can have a bright future in Ireland, underpinned by sustainability, farmers local businesses and bioeconomy principles.
Bioeconomy Ireland Network Members
Connecting Ireland’s Bioeconomy
