Raising awareness of Ireland’s national bioeconomy sector through Bioeconomy Ireland Week from October 17th – 23rd 2022
Bioeconomy Ireland Week takes place every year in October with the aim of highlighting and raising awareness of the broader national bioeconomy sector. The week is a collaboration of events involving industry, state agencies, local communities, producers, researchers, and students throughout Ireland.
The bioeconomy is the part of the economy that uses renewable biological (living) resources from land and water (e.g. fish, micro-organisms, algae, crops, forests, and animals) to produce food, feed, materials, and energy. Developing this sector is important as we transition to a sustainable and climate neutral society, moving away from a linear economy based on fossil and mineral resources to a circular economy. By transforming residual biomasses, such as industrial side-streams, food waste, organic municipal waste and crop residues, into value-added products, the full potential of the bioeconomy can be unlocked.
This year’s theme is #allvoicestogether and organisers are encouraging all voices in the bioeconomy, such as primary producers, industry, researchers, educators, policy makers and citizens, to share their story and help raise awareness. The week is about learning how we can collectively implement actions that will transition Ireland towards a more sustainable and circular bio-based economy.
For the 2022 programme of events, the Marine Institute and BiOrbic developed a campaign with librarians across the country (Public and Higher Education Institutions) to encourage people to start a conversation about the bioeconomy. Drop by your local participating library for a free bioeconomy bookmark and see some of the events taking place at https://irishbioeconomy.ucd.ie/biw/
On Friday 21st October, Pauline O’Donohoe from the Marine Institute will hold a talk on Blue Bioeconomy at Westside library in Galway at 3.30pm for families interested in learning more. There is also an opportunity for budding artists (aged 12 and under) to get creative with an arts competition with a focus on the blue bioeconomy. For more information, visit the Westside Library in Galway city or download the competition rules here.
Also this year, the Marine Institute, in collaboration with Nua na Mara, Údarás na Gaeltachta, and Circular Bioeconomy South West Cluster are organising an in-person event: ‘Diversity in Bioeconomy’ on Thursday 20th October 2022 from 2-4pm at the Galway Chamber of Commerce. All are welcome to attend this free event, but registration is required. If interested, please register using the link to Eventbrite here.
Teagasc in collaboration with other groups, including the Marine Institute, will present a series of maps on the bioeconomy to highlight its relevance for a wide range of stakeholders. The Marine Institute and Bord Iascaigh Mhara have contributed to a map on the shellfish sector including seed mussels and native oyster reefs, highlighting the work that both State Agencies are involved in. This map can be found here and the full map series is available here.
For more information and a list of events taking place during the week: https://irishbioeconomy.ucd.ie/biw/
Follow #irishbioeconomy, #BIW2022, #allvoicestogether, #GuthannaLeChéile, #BithgheilleagarnahÉireann on Twitter.
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