What's happening outside Europe?

The European Union has strength in depth in the biological sciences, in both the public and private sectors. However, our major competitors will not stand by why we exploit this: they too have active biotechnology sectors.

The development of biorefineries and bio-based products, including biofuels has been supported through strategies in different regions of the world. As the use of biomass and organic wastes for transformation in bio-based products and the concept of biorefineries, there are not yet comprehensive policies in most regions of the world. These policies are only emerging in Europe and the US where a strong chemical and biotech industry is driving the development of bio-based products and the increasing use of renewable materials.