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K. Šermukšnytė-Alešiūnienė: “Youth and women – among the key pillars of future bioeconomy”

Holistically transforming the bioeconomy sector to harmonize sustainability with economic and environmental goals – this was the core focus of the insights shared at the Bioeconomy Forum 2024 held in March. Industry professionals, policymakers, academics, business and NGO representatives as well as young innovators from Lithuania and abroad exchanged their perspectives at the Vilnius Town Hall. Over 2,000 participants from across the EU, both in-person and online, joined the event, eager to collaboratively shape the future.

The forum was organized by the cluster and digital innovation hub AgriFood Lithuania and the Research Council of Lithuania, in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy and Innovation, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Innovation Agency, LithuaniaBIO, and Invest Lithuania. The event was part of the Europe-wide Bioeconomy Changemakers Festival, initiated by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, in cooperation with youth ambassadors in the bioeconomy sector.

Greetings from the EU Commissioner

Opening the forum, Virginijus Sinkevičius, the European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans, and Fisheries, expressed support for the country's commitment to finding ways to strengthen the sector. According to him, the bioeconomy offers sustainable opportunities for innovation in agriculture, forestry, and rural areas, enabling income diversification, cost reduction, and increased resilience.

“In the pursuit of transformation, the primary goal must remain sustainability – biomass resources are limited, so we must manage them very carefully both on land and at sea. And let's not forget to involve the youth in any processes, whose creativity and energy will be crucial in driving innovations, especially in revitalizing remote areas,” shared V. Sinkevičius in his welcoming remarks.

Lithuania's Minister of Agriculture, Kęstutis Navickas, emphasized that bioeconomy is a very broad field, and we must harness as many competencies and unconventional solutions as possible to successfully implement specific aspects: “Creating added value from our own production, rather than being a country of raw materials, is one of the key goals we should actively pursue.”

According to the Lithuanian Vice Minister of Economy and Innovation, the challenges faced daily by EU member states are very similar, so we can only solve them together. With these words, Ieva Valeškaitė encouraged the international, interdisciplinary audience to share best practices and seek productive forms of teamwork.

“The national bioeconomy sector already accounts for 7.5% of the total GDP, and we can further harness its potential. For example, by expanding R&D&I activities that ensure collaboration between science and business in the private sector and the growth of human resource competencies,” the speaker commented on the ministry's contribution.

Towards a sustainable European bioeconomy – inclusive and with a unified strategy

Kristina Šermukšnytė-Alešiūnienė, CEO of AgriFood Lithuania, welcomed event participants and called for the exploration of new bioeconomy definitions during the high-level opening discussion. She encouraged sharing ideas on how to integrate these definitions into each related sector. According to her, fostering the growth of young talents and ensuring women's leadership would not only create a fairer society in terms of equality and inclusion but also drive progress in the bioeconomy.

“Young people and women are among the strongest pillars that will help lay the foundation for a greener tomorrow, where dynamic, diverse, and innovative businesses thrive. Undoubtedly, sustainability and responsible resource use should also be considered as potential strengths and competitive advantages for companies. Organizations that implement these principles will not only gain consumer support but also open doors to new markets,” emphasized Kristina Šermukšnytė-Alešiūnienė.

Other key insights from the first panel included the need for an action plan with very clearly defined goals and objectives for the successful development of the bioeconomy. However, Argo Peepson, Head of the Bioesources and Climate Department at the Estonian Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture, reminded us that yet another document without a shared vision will not have much significance.

“National bioeconomy strategies should clearly reflect the dialogue between ministries, universities, entrepreneurs, and all other stakeholders, addressing gaps and clarifying perspectives. And a simply better understanding of the bioeconomy concept is crucial in this process. Activities like food production and forestry have existed for thousands of years, yet society questions why we only now talk about these integral parts of the sector as the essence of the bioeconomy,” A. Peepson said.

Alternative proteins: challenges drive improvement

The once niche idea of meat substitutes is now a leading trend, crucial for improving the resilience of food systems, responding to global changes, and other factors. In a discussion dedicated to this topic, Seth Roberts, The Good Food Institute Europe Policy Manager, spoke about the regulation of the alternative protein industry.

“On one hand, regulation can hinder the market entry of both new products and the technologies developed for them. However, we can see the challenges posed by certain rules as opportunities for improvements, such as speeding up processes or fostering closer collaboration between regulatory bodies and companies.

Moreover, we have observed significant progress in innovation development since last year. Many new plant-based products have been approved, and both EU and national funding have increased. This indicates recognition that alternative proteins will play a major role in the future food system,” shared S. Roberts.

Former long-time CEO of EIT Food, Andy Zynga, highlighted the importance of consumer education in this direction: “Encouraging and implementing innovations is not enough. We must invest in educating people, not only presenting protein diversity alternatives but also providing real knowledge about what they are, how they work, and their benefits to society and the environment,” explained the ambassador of the world's largest food innovation initiative.

I. Valeškaitė emphasized that Lithuania needs to actively participate in all discussions on alternative proteins currently taking place at the EU level. This is not only due to economic or ethical aspects but also because of food security, a highly relevant and sensitive topic since Russia started the war on our continent.

“One of the tasks we need to undertake ourselves is growing the talent pool. We can already be proud of the scientists developing the necessary technologies, but it is crucial to strengthen the potential of promising students as much as possible, including scholarships and grants to gain experience from the best in Europe,” said the Deputy Minister of Economy and Innovation.

The Netherlands are leaders in the field of alternative proteins. Therefore, the agreement to promote sector development in Lithuania and across Europe, signed by the Innovation Agency and Cell Agriculture Europe at the Green Horizons Summit 2024, opens up this and many other opportunities.

The sector needs a broad-visioned generation and they need supportive mentors

The EU Bioeconomy Youth Ambassador, Science and Innovation Advisor at the Ministry of Agriculture of Lithuania, Ugnė Dirdaitė, highlighted in a panel discussion reflecting youth empowerment that her generation tends to think globally but act locally: “We see no difference in causes of both local and global problems, and once identified, we are not afraid to seek solutions. This is very important in the bioeconomy sector,” she said.

Nelo Emerencia, Director of Human Capital & Stakeholder Relations of the Bio-Based Industries Consortium, agreed noting that the current generation demonstrates great courage to take risks and view failures as lessons, as well as a stronger entrepreneurial mindset than before: “Young talents understand that we need not only a variety of fermentation technologies but also tools to apply them and then increase and maintain their demand,” he pointed out.

Meanwhile, Andželika Rusteikienė, Director of Lithuania Junior Achievement, shared her insights about the growing expectation of young people for educators to be mentors or coaches rather than traditional teachers: providing practical advice and comprehensive support instead of conventional knowledge and teaching methods: “This changing educational environment suggests a need for a more collaborative and supportive approach that would inspire future generations to unleash their full potential,” said the panellist.

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Lithuania joins international project to test innovative plant and environmental protection system

STELLA is a new project funded under Horizon Europe Programme, aiming to develop a holistic digital system (STELLA PSS) to aid in the early warning and detection of quarantine and regulated plant pathogens and a response strategy using modern sensing technology and Artificial Intelligence.

The project aspires to advance pest monitoring and surveillance solutions, pioneer novel methodologies, and validate efficacy in real-world agricultural systems to protect plants and the environment. Throughout the project, a Pest Surveillance System (PSS) will be developed that will be consisting of three (3) subsystems:

• An early warning system harnessing novel pest forecasting models and Internet of Things (IoT) sensors.
• A pest detection system leveraging remotely piloted aerial systems (RPAS), remote and proximal sensing, citizen science, and traps.
• A pest response system furnishing geolocated hotspots for initiating containment and counteractive measures.

STELLA PSS will be tested over three years at field, farm, and regional levels across 6 Use Case Pilots (UCPs) covering arable, orchard, and vineyard crops as well as large, difficult-to-reach areas (forests). The project will focus on 8 different quarantine and regulated non-quarantine pest (RNQP) diseases, expanding across 4 European countries with different climate and geological characteristics and New Zealand.

STELLA officially kicked off on February 6^th and 7^th, 2024 in Athens. The kick off meeting was concluded with great success and was attended by representatives from all 14 partners from the 7 countries involved in the project.

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Kristina Šermukšnytė-Alešiūnienė. From Lithuania to the EU: echoes of agrarian frustration in the heart of Europe

The storm that hit Lithuania's wintry fields has moved on to the country's capital. It is not only the dark clouds that threaten future harvests, but also the growing frustration that has been born in the heart of Europe's agriculture valleys. However, the recent increase in farmers' protests in Lithuania is more than a local grievance. We are facing a clear symptom of Europe's agrarian anxiety, which signals the serious challenges facing the farming community today.

Why are the roots of frustration among Lithuanian farmers deepening?

European Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski, opening the Agri-Food Days 2023 in Brussels, underlined that every year we are losing more and more farms that are no longer sustainable. The statistics are really quite sad. In 2020, there were 9.1 million farms in the EU, down 37% from 2005. This means that 5.3 million farms are simply no longer there.

An unprecedented peaceful and very united farmers' protest is currently taking place in Lithuania. As in many EU countries, they have come out onto the streets. Farmers' tractors, the symbol of rural livelihoods, have become the emblem of the protest itself. The reasons for protesting are many and the specific concerns that weigh on the shoulders of those who work the land vary. But low farm gate prices, high operating costs, the relentless instability of the market and periods of crisis - the effects of the pandemic and the ongoing war - have all put many farmers in the same insecure situation.

I will come back to the number and variety of challenges facing farmers, which perfectly reflect the diverse role of agriculture in the EU's socio-economic system. For now, let us focus on the fact that the roots of farmers' frustration are getting deeper. Agricultural policy, both national and in the corridors of Brussels, is often at the heart of their dissatisfaction. I would like to stress here that the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), launched in 1962, is a partnership between agriculture and society, as well as between Europe and its farmers. It aims to support them and to improve agricultural productivity by ensuring a stable supply of affordable food.

Its objectives include protecting Member States' farmers so that they can make a reasonable living, helping to combat climate change and sustainably manage natural resources, preserving rural areas and landscapes across the EU, and keeping the rural economy alive by boosting job creation in agriculture, the food industry and related sectors.

Although the CAP is a pillar of EU integration, it has its critics. Subsidy distribution, bureaucratic confusion and a perceived gap between politicking and practice are among the repeating themes in the list of reasons for farmers' frustration.

European farmers are not just the backbone of the food supply chain

In recent years, especially since 2019 (or the launch of the Green Deal), farmers' protests have increased in the EU, with strong organisation and large numbers of participants. Significant demonstrations have taken place in countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, France, Poland, Spain or Italy.

These protests have been motivated by a wide range of interlinked issues. Economic pressures, such as low producer prices and unfair competition, as well as challenges related to agricultural policy, in particular the complexity and inequality of the CAP. Environmental rules, undoubtedly crucial in the face of climate change and the loss of biodiversity, are nevertheless confusing in the maze of requirements. Farmers, the guardians of the vitality of Europe's countryside, are often 'stuck' between environmental sustainability provisions and the realities of agricultural production.

The recent protests in the Netherlands, prompted by measures to reduce nitrogen emissions, illustrate this tension - the delicate balance between preserving nature and sustaining livelihoods. Environmental regulations aimed at reducing emissions and promoting sustainability are being contested. Farmers argue that the practical aspects of farming and economic sustainability are often ignored.

The protests also echoed the call to respect and re-evaluate the role of agriculture in society, highlighting the need for an inclusive dialogue between policy makers, society and the farming community. The overarching objective is to comprehensively address the multiple challenges of modern agriculture and ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for all stakeholders.

Recognising the indispensable role of farmers is, at the very least, essential. They are not only the backbone of the food supply chain but also the custodians of our lands and traditions. Their hard work and dedication is the foundation on which food security is built, and farmers' well-being is therefore synonymous with the health of society as a whole.

Protests are not just a cry for economic aid or policy reform. They ask for recognition and respect. Farmers are not just food producers - they are also preservers of cultural heritage, pioneers of innovation and defenders of the environment. But the public perception that such a multifaceted role often does not match expectations fosters a sense of marginalisation.

The solution: a future shaping policy based on community realities

The response to agrarian frustration is not a simple one. It requires an integrated approach that recognises the concerns of the farming community while addressing the broader challenges of sustainability, economic viability and social justice. A constructive dialogue involving all stakeholders is key. Policy makers, farmers, industry actors and civil society need to come together to develop policies that are not only fair and forward-looking, but also based on the realities of farmers' lives.

Investment in rural infrastructure, support for sustainable practices, fair trading conditions and genuine cooperation with the agricultural sector are just some of the steps that can pave the way. The EU's commitment to food security, rural development and environmental sustainability is the policy basis on which these actions can be taken. Of course, the path would not be easy and would require a joint effort, a shared vision and a basic willingness to adapt and innovate.

The echoes of agrarian frustration will spread from Lithuania to the far corners of the EU. Let us therefore remember that the health of European agriculture is inseparable from the health of society, the economy and the environment. Addressing the challenges facing farmers is not just about addressing the turbulence in the sector. It is about nurturing the very roots of Europe's prosperity and sustainability. The fields of Lithuania, and indeed of Europe as a whole, are not just farmland, but the horizon of a healthy life, where the seeds of a sustainable and inclusive future must be sown with care, understanding and respect. Recognising the vital role of farmers, we are building a sustainable future for all.

by Agrifood