The Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) is continuing its series of stakeholder engagement events to discuss a number of important topics featured in ‘Our Rural Future – Ireland’s Rural Development Policy 2021-2025’.

The theme of this event is: Demonstrating Biobased Solutions for Rural Communities

Ireland’s first National Bioeconomy Action Plan was published in 2023. It has a strong focus on bringing sustainable scientific practices, technologies, and biobased innovation into use in Ireland, containing 33 actions across seven pillars.

The Plan aims to further develop Ireland’s bioeconomy, in social, economic and policy terms, in the period 2023 to 2025, particularly increasing awareness and understanding of the bioeconomy more broadly.

It will ensure support for the goal of moving biobased innovation and solutions from research to sustainable and circular industrial production with accelerated pace, and will support greater investment in demonstrating the bioeconomy, providing exemplars, and ensuring support for interactions and progress among multiple actors, including in local communities, businesses, primary producers, scientific communities, policymakers, social movements, and interest groups.

This forum is scheduled to coincide with Bioeconomy Ireland Week, an annual event held to highlight and raise awareness of Ireland’s rapidly growing bioeconomy, with awareness raising initiatives involving industry, local communities, producers, researchers and students throughout Ireland.

The event will provide an opportunity to discuss the challenges and opportunities that impact on rural communities and economies. Attendees will learn more about ongoing work relating to key objectives contained in the Bioeconomy Action Plan, and engage with a panel of expert stakeholders.

Register and read the agenda here.