Boosting Bioeconomy in Slovenia: Key Outcomes from the 2nd Interministerial Group Meeting

 

The 2nd Interministerial Group Meeting of the BOOST4BIOEAST - SI HUB took place on February 3, 2025, at the Ministry of Environment, Climate, and Energy in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Building upon the first meeting held at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Food in November 2024, this session focused on enhancing interministerial collaboration for Slovenia’s Bioeconomy Action Plan and further integrating ministries into the Slovenian Bioeconomy Hub.

Driving Interministerial Cooperation in Bioeconomy

Bringing together representatives from 12 ministries and BIOEAST HUB Slovenia, the meeting underscored the importance of aligning national policies with bioeconomy initiatives. Key presentations were delivered by Mario Plešej (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food) and Marco Segovia Bifarini (Circular Change), highlighting the BIOEAST initiative, the BOOST4BIOEAST project, and the Slovenian Bioeconomy Hub.

The discussion centered on three main themes:

  • Integration of Ministries into the Bioeconomy Hub: Ministries expressed strong interest in actively participating in Hub initiatives, particularly in policy alignment and strategic development.

  • Pathway to a Slovenian Bioeconomy Action Plan: The group explored ways to formalize Slovenia’s approach without overburdening stakeholders, leveraging existing mapping efforts, and ensuring an actionable and impact-driven plan.

  • Interministerial Synergies: Opportunities to align bioeconomy with circular economy strategies were identified, emphasizing Slovenia’s role within broader EU bioeconomy policy developments.

Looking Ahead: Strengthening Slovenia’s Bioeconomy Strategy

One of the most significant pending items is aligning the Slovenian Bioeconomy Hub with the Prime Minister’s Food System Summit initiative, which will enhance its strategic positioning and stakeholder engagement. Additionally, a Position Paper on Slovenian Bioeconomy is under review to establish a clear foundation for future policy development.

The next steps will also focus on the Deep Demonstration project, particularly in the Built Environment and Food System value chains, with findings set to be presented at the Slovenian President’s Food Summit on June 4, 2025. Furthermore, upcoming Deep Demonstration initiatives will expand into Transport and Critical Raw Materials.

Conclusion

The 2nd Interministerial Group Meeting reaffirmed Slovenia’s commitment to fostering a smart, actionable, and impactful Bioeconomy Action Plan. Through interministerial cooperation and European collaboration, Slovenia is positioning itself as a leader in sustainable and circular bioeconomy development.

 
Circular Change