Development of the Bioeconomy in Bulgaria
Where are the opportunities for Dutch investors to facilitate innovation and growth?
Forum on Bioeconomy
The Dutch-Bulgarian forum on bioeconomy “Development of the Bioeconomy in Bulgaria: Opportunities for Implementing Innovation and Growth Seminar on innovations” was on the highlights of the AGRA 2022, one of the prestigious fairs for agricultural machinery and technologies in Bulgaria, held in Plovdiv. The conference was organized by Agricultural University of Plovdiv and Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bulgaria.
The topics of bioeconomy and possibilities for Dutch-Bulgarian cooperation gathered many attendants, as well as sparkled vivid discussions. Deputy ministers and representatives of institutions in charge for circular bioeconomy, innovation and growth, academia, research institutes, stakeholders in the agri-food and bioeconomy sectors, consumer associations, NGOs, entrepreneurial ecosystems in agri-food and bioeconomies - including local incubators - , accelerators, innovation centers, sales professionals and government), startup support organizations, local funding institutions, as well as media attended the event taking place under the patronage of Minister of Innovation and Growth Daniel Lorer.
The conference aimed at sharing experiences from the Netherlands and Bulgaria in the implementation of Circular Bioeconomy Plan, by supporting innovations and addressing the Green Deal and the European Bioeconomy Strategy.
Addressing the forum, Netherlands’ Ambassador Simon van der Burg pointed out the Dutch commitment to share knowledge and experiences with Bulgaria: “In the Netherlands agriculture is not considered a separate sector, anymore. On one side is part of the Food Value Chain and on the other side its part of the Bioeconomy. Our country has small and densely populated land and we have to be efficient with resources and take into account sustainability”.
Project CAPBIO4BG
Dutch Agricultural Counselor, Arie Veldhuizen, provided more insides the Netherlands priorities on circular agriculture, bio economy and agricultural education. Amon the successful examples of Dutch-Bulgarian collaboration in bioeconomy presented at the forum was the project CAPBIO4BG “Developing the research & innovation capacity at the Agricultural University of Plovdiv to boost the regional innovation potential in Bio-economy” implemented by Wageningen University and Research (WUR), which is also a flagship example for research cooperation between the two universities.
Follow-up
Future cooperation in bioeconomy and other innovative new sectors were discussed between Netherlands’ Ambassador Simon van der Burg, Dutch Agricultural Counselor, Arie Veldhuizen, Minister of Innovation and Growth Daniel Lorer and Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Foods Ivan Hristanov.
The conference is expected to have several follow-ups: future cooperation between Dutch and Bulgarian companies; B2B networking and new opportunities in the upcoming Dutch trade mission to Bulgaria in fruit and vegetable value chain.
Visits
Dutch Ambassador and Agricultural Counselor visited Dutch and Bulgarian companies at the fair, as well as met representatives of Plovdiv authorities, Dutch companies, Bulgarian business and non-governmental organizations. They also paid a visit to Enza Zaden Bulgaria (a vegetable-breeding company) greenhouse demo center located in Tsalapitsa village, Plovdiv region.
