Bio-economy Research and Technology Council

The Bio-economy Research and Technology Council (German: Bioökonomierat, BÖR), originally named Forschungs- und Technologierat Bioökonomie, is an independent scientific advisory body established in 2009 to support the development of the bioeconomy in Germany. It was founded by the German Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech) with support from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV). It was the first time in Germany that a policy-initiated council was set up by a national science academy. The council is financed by the BMBF and was administratively based at acatech in Berlin from 2009 to 2012; the BMBF served as the interface to the Federal Government and other ministries. Since 2012, the council has been appointed by the BMBF. The council's first working period ran from 2009 to 2012. In early autumn 2012, it began its second working phase under the name Bioökonomierat. The third council was appointed in 2020 and advises the Federal Government on the implementation of the National Bioeconomy Strategy. The council's composition follows technical and research-structural criteria, aiming to cover all competence fields of the bioeconomy, including agricultural sciences (soil and land use, plant and animal breeding, agricultural economics), biotechnology, and energy provision. As an independent scientific policy advisory body, the council aims to provide an overview of opportunities and perspectives in the bioeconomy in Germany, issue scientifically grounded recommendations for improving framework conditions, develop scenarios for research, education and young talent promotion, and promote networking among relevant actors from science, business and politics. Its goals include analyzing scientific objectives at federal and state level, improving framework conditions, promoting national and transnational scientific cooperation, accelerating the development of innovative technologies, shortening time-to-market, aligning with the Federal Government's High-Tech Strategy, and improving cooperation along the value chain. The council publishes its results as expert opinions and recommendations. Notable publications include "Kompetenzen bündeln, Rahmenbedingungen verbessern, internationale Partnerschaften eingehen" (Recommendations No. 01, 2009), the 2010 expert opinion "Innovation Bioökonomie", and subsequent recommendations on bioeconomy research priorities, sustainable use of bioenergy, funding instruments, internationalization, bioinformatics infrastructure, and the future of the food, nutrition and health sector. It also publishes the series "Berichte aus dem Bioökonomierat" (Reports from the Bioeconomy Council). The council organizes events such as the Bioökonomieforum (2022, 2023) and publishes background papers on topics like resource conservation, new foods, carbon accounting, and biogas/biorefinery technologies. It maintains a secretariat (Geschäftsstelle) and communicates through press releases and its website.

The Bio-economy Research and Technology Council (Forschungs- und Technologierat Bioökonomie) was established in 2009 as an independent advisory body to the German Federal Government, created by the German Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech) with support from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV). It was the first time in Germany that a policy-initiated council was set up by a national science academy. The council was financed by the BMBF and administratively based at acatech in Berlin from 2009 to 2012, with the BMBF acting as the interface to the Federal Government and other ministries. The first working period lasted from 2009 to 2012. In early autumn 2012, the council began its second working phase under the name Bioökonomierat (BÖR). Since 2012, the council has been appointed by the BMBF. The third council was appointed in 2020 and advises the Federal Government on the implementation of the National Bioeconomy Strategy. The council's composition follows technical and research-structural criteria, aiming to cover all competence fields of the bioeconomy, including agricultural sciences (soil and land use, plant and animal breeding, agricultural economics), biotechnology, and energy provision. The council publishes expert opinions and recommendations, and organizes events such as the Bioökonomieforum. It maintains a secretariat and communicates through press releases and its website.

• 2023

  Bioökonomieforum 2023 held; third council period successfully concluded.

• 2022

  Bioökonomieforum 2022 held; council hands over statement to Patermann and Kellner.

• 2020

  Third council appointed; advises on implementation of the National Bioeconomy Strategy.

• 2012

  Council renamed Bioökonomierat (BÖR); second working phase begins; appointment by BMBF starts.

• 2012

  Publication of several recommendations (No. 03–07) on bioenergy, funding instruments, internationalization, bioinformatics infrastructure, and food/nutrition/health.

• 2011

  Publication of 'Prioritäten in der Bioökonomie-Forschung' (Recommendations No. 02).

• 2010

  Publication of expert opinion 'Innovation Bioökonomie. Forschung und Technologieentwicklung für Ernährungssicherung, nachhaltige Ressourcennutzung und Wettbewerbsfähigkeit'.

• 2009

  Founded as Forschungs- und Technologierat Bioökonomie by acatech with support from BMBF and BMELV; first working period begins.

• 2009

  Publication of first recommendations: 'Kompetenzen bündeln, Rahmenbedingungen verbessern, internationale Partnerschaften eingehen' (Recommendations No. 01).

Independent scientific advisory body to the German Federal Government on bioeconomy policy.

• Kompetenzen bündeln, Rahmenbedingungen verbessern, internationale Partnerschaften eingehen (Recommendations No. 01, 2009)

• Innovation Bioökonomie. Forschung und Technologieentwicklung für Ernährungssicherung, nachhaltige Ressourcennutzung und Wettbewerbsfähigkeit (Expert opinion, 2010)

• Prioritäten in der Bioökonomie-Forschung (Recommendations No. 02, 2011)

• Nachhaltige Nutzung von Bioenergie (Recommendations No. 03, 2012)

• Weiterentwicklung des Förderinstrumentariums von öffentlicher und privater Forschung im Hinblick auf die Anforderungen der Bioökonomie (Recommendations No. 04, 2012)

• Internationalisierung der Bioökonomieforschung in Deutschland - Erste Empfehlungen (Recommendations No. 05, 2012)

• Anforderungen an eine Bioinformatik-Infrastruktur in Deutschland zur Durchführung von bioökonomierelevanter Forschung (Recommendations No. 06, 2012)

• Die Zukunft im Sektor Lebensmittel, Ernährung und Gesundheit (Recommendations No. 07, 2012)

• Berichte aus dem Bioökonomierat (Reports series)

• Hintergrundpapier Rahmensetzung zur Ressourcenschonung (2024)

• Hintergrundpapier Neue Lebensmittel (2023)

• Hintergrundpapier Ansätze für eine Kohlenstoffbilanzierung (2023)

• Hintergrundpapier Biogas- und Bioraffinerie-Technologien – Agrarperspektive (2023)

1. 1BioÖkonomieRat official websitebiooekonomierat.de
2. 2Wikidata: Bio-economy Research and Technology Councilwikidata.org
3. 3Wikipedia (German): Forschungs- und Technologierat Bioökonomiede.wikipedia.org