Bioeconomy for Sustainable Food and Agriculture

Bioeconomy is the production, utilization, conservation, and regeneration of biological resources within and across all economic sectors and enables a transformation to a sustainable economy (Global Bioeconomy Summit Communiqué, 2026). It supports the livelihoods of billions of people and offers solutions to key global challenges, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and food insecurity. However, much of its potential remains underdeveloped, particularly in countries where biological resources are most available. 

FAO works with governments and partners across the globe to advance bioeconomy for sustainable food and agriculture, supporting the development of national strategies, strengthening value chains, and promoting innovation. 

FAO is the first UN agency to make bioeconomy a strategic priority, through the Programme Priority Area on Bioeconomy for Sustainable Food and Agriculture (PPA BE2) under the Strategic Framework 2022-2031.

Facts & Figures

Bioeconomy contributes to 

Dashboards

Bioeconomy Strategies Dashboard

Explore where countries stand on national bioeconomy strategy development.

Inventory of Bioeconomy Indicators

Navigate through over 3,000 indicators relevant for bioeconomy.

Highlights

Bioeconomy in Action: Black Soldier Flies, Turning Waste into Value
01/06/2026

Black soldier flies offer a practical, scalable solution to convert organic waste into valuable inputs for food and agriculture. By turning urban waste...

News
Students use bioeconomy to turn agricultural waste into fashion
09/11/2026

Bioeconomy is turning what agrifood systems throw away into what people wear. Banana stems, tuna skin and pineapple leaves are becoming fibre, leather,...

09/2026

Examples from different countries show how subnational bioeconomy policies can turn crop and livestock waste and local biomass into valuable bioproducts, diversifying rural incomes without compromising food security and strengthening agrifood systems.

Bioeconomy 101

A crash course in the biological resources around us: the basis of a sustainable bioeconomy. 

Try our pop quiz along the way and become a bioeconomy expert.