Bioeconomy

The Region is positioning itself for sustainable and low-carbon agriculture, while initiating a transition to Industry 4.0 in the agricultural sector. Eastern France is a European leader in the bioeconomy.

Key figures

• 53% of the regional territory is dedicated to agriculture
• 2nd largest beet and tobacco producing region
• 49,000 farms (~ 10% of French farms)
• 3 million hectares under cultivation
• 2042 agri-food companies representing ~10% of the national total
• 75,000 jobs in the agricultural sector and 30,000 in the food industry
• 5.5 billion foreign trade surplus

Agri-food and biomass, the two leading sectors in Eastern France

As the second largest agricultural region in France, Eastern France is particularly well known in the food industry. It produces an overwhelming share of the beer consumed in France and its wine culture (which represents 36% of the territory’s agricultural surface) is internationally recognised. It also produces many other foods such as sugar, chocolate, cocoa, confectionery and ready meals: this contributes to the attractiveness of the region’s sector, which ranks sixth in France in terms of salaried jobs in the food industry.

Furthermore, Eastern France makes efficient use of its biomass, which is available in large quantities in the region. The most important sectors are rapeseed, barley, protein and oilseed crops, wheat, industrial beet, alfalfa, potatoes and hemp (it provides 50% of French production and 34% of European production).

A sector strongly supported by clusters, poles and training

ARIA is an association of agri-food companies in Eastern France, pooling resources and actions to ensure the competitiveness of its members. It supports their commercial development in France and internationally by organising collective actions at the main professional events. Many companies in the sector are also involved in the IAR (bioeconomy cluster) and Fibres Energivie.

The bioeconomy R&D network in Eastern France is particularly extensive. These include Terralab, which is a bioeconomy farm that supports local authorities in their project to support “off-farm” installations, as well as the National Institute for Research on Agriculture and the Environment (INRAE) and the European Centre for Biotechnology and Bioeconomy (CEBB), which includes four academic research chairs.

Bioeconomy companies have chosen Eastern France

With major stakes and a real desire for development, our bioeconomy sector has already attracted many companies to the Region.

Offcial portal : https://www.bioeconomie-grandest.fr/