Abstracts

The Bioeconomy Roadmap of the Republic of Serbia defines a strategic framework for advancing the green transformation of agribusiness through sustainable resource use, circularity, and innovation. This paper aims to present the relevance of the Roadmap for agriculture and biomass- based value chains. The document was developed through a multi-actor co-creation process involving public institutions, research organization, industry, and civil society, utilizing analytical reviews and participatory consultations. The main results include the identification of key barriers to bioeconomy implementation, including institutional and policy gaps (limited readiness of institutions, insufficient policy support and the need for policy adjustments), knowledge and technological limitations (low awareness of bioeconomy, technological and digital constraints), and financial constraints, as well as five priority action areas: institutional strengthening, international cooperation, sustainable management of biological resources, support for circular bio-based production, and development of innovative biotechnologies. The road map provides a governance and implementation model that can enhance resource efficiency, strengthen bio-based value chains and improve resilience of the agribusiness sector. The conclusions emphases the need for integrated policies, targeted investments, and knowledge transfer to accelerate Serbia’s transition toward a competitive, low-carbon agricultural system aligned with EU objectives.

Keywords

Bioeconomy, Circularity, Agribusiness, Biomass, Innovation

Acknowledgment

This paper presents results developed within the CEE2ACT project (2022-2025), which has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program under Grant Agreement No. 101060280. The authors also acknowledge the valuable contributions of members of the National Bioeconomy Hub, whose active participation, expertise, and feedback were essential for the co-creation and validation of the National Bioeconomy Roadmap.

References

1. 1. Behera, D., Fathima, J., Saady, N.M.C., Zendehboudi, S., Albayati, T.M., Al-nayili, A., Chatterjee, P., Ponnusami, V., Peach, B.,Espinoza, J.E.R. (2025). Sustainable agriculture through environmental adaptation engineering for waste management. Green Technologies and Sustainability, 4(1), 100242. doi: 10.1016/j.grets.2025.100242. Beillouin D, Schauberger B, Bastos A, Ciais P, Makowski D. (2020). Impact of extreme weather conditions on European crop production in 2018. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. B, 375, 20190510. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0510.
2. 2. Billen, G., Aguilera, E., Einarsson, R., Garnier, J., Gingrich, S., Grizzetti, B., Lassaletta, L., Le Noë, J., Sanz-Cobena, A. (2021). Reshaping the European agro-food system and closing its nitrogen cycle: The potential of combining dietary change, agroecology, and circularity. One Earth, 4(6), 839-850. doi: 10.1016/j.oneear.2021.05.008.
3. 3. Bracco, S., Calicioglu, O., Gomez San Juan, M., Flammini, A. (2018). Assessing the contribution of bioeconomy to the total economy: A review of national frameworks. Sustainability, 10(6), 1698. doi: 10.3390/su10061698.
4. 4. Bugge, M.M., Hansen, T., Klitkou, A. (2016). What is the bioeconomy? A review of the literature. Sustainability, 8(7), 691. doi: 10.3390/su8070691. CEE2ACT Project (2025). Appendix 3: English summaries of roadmaps.
5. 5. National Bioeconomy Roadmap (Deliverable D6.3). Funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Program. www.cee2act.eu/resources/#publications. Coalition 27 (2025). CHAPTER 27 in Serbia: System Error: Shadow Report on Chapter 27: Environment and Climate Change: May 2024-May 2025. M., Antić (Ed.). Young Researchers of Serbia, Belgrade.
6. 6. European Commission (2018). A sustainable bioeconomy for Europe: Strengthening the connection between economy, society and the environment (COM(2018) 673 final).
7. 7. European Commission.
8. 8. European Commission (2019).
9. 9. The European Green Deal (COM(2019) 640 final).
10. 10. European Commission.
11. 11. European Commission (2020a). A Farm to Fork Strategy for a fair, healthy and environmentally - friendly food system (COM(2020) 381 final).
12. 12. European Commission.
13. 13. European Commission (2020b). A new Circular Economy Action Plan: For a cleaner and more competitive Europe (COM(2020) 98 final).
14. 14. European Commission.
15. 15. European Commission (2025). Strategic Framework for a Competitive and Sustainable EU Bioeconomy (COM(2025)960 final).
16. 16. European Commission.
17. 17. Guo, H., Xia, Y., Jin, J., Pan, C. (2022). The impact of climate change on the efficiency of agricultural production in the world's main agricultural regions. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 97, 106891. doi: 10.1016/j.eiar.2022.106891.
18. 18. Hausknost, D., Schriefl, E., Lauk, C., Kalt, G.A. (2017). Transition to Which Bioeconomy? An Exploration of Diverging Techno-Political Choices. Sustainability, 9(4), 669. doi: 10.3390/su9040669.
19. 19. Jander, W., Günther, J., Prochnow, A. (2025). What is this thing called circular bioeconomy? Integrating the concepts of circular agri-food and industrial systems. Journal of Cleaner Production, 530, 146872. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.146872.
20. 20. Kardung, M., Cingiz, K., Costenoble, O., Delahaye, R., Heijman, W., Lovrić, M., van Leeuwen, M., M’barek, R., van Meijl, H., Piotrowski, S., Ronzon, T. (2021). Development of the circular bioeconomy: Drivers and indicators. Sustainability, 13(1), 413. doi: 10.3390/su13010413.
21. 21. Lakatos, L., Csabai, K.E. (2025). Extreme weather risks for European agriculture (1981-2020): A quantitative review using the E3CI. Science of the Total Environment, 1003, 180641. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.180641.
22. 22. Lyu, R., Arisian, S., Li, Z., Taskhiri, M.S., Mavi, R.K. (2024). The role of agricultural biomass in supply chain decarbonization. Annals of Operations Research. doi: 10.1007/s10479-024-05979-
23. 23. Ministry of Environmental Protection of the Republic of Serbia (2020). Roadmap for circular economy in Serbia. www.ekologija.gov.rs/sites/default/files/2021-01/roadmap-for-circular- economy-in-serbia.pdf.
24. 24. Paris, B., Vandorou, F., Balafoutis, A.T., Vaiopoulos, K., Kyriakarakos, G., Manolakos, D., Papadakis, G. (2022). Energy use in open-field agriculture in the EU: A critical review recommending energy efficiency measures and renewable energy sources adoption. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 158, 112098. doi: 10.1016/j.rser.2022.112098.
25. 25. Ronzon, T., M’Barek, R. (2018). Socioeconomic Indicators to Monitor the EU’s Bioeconomy in Transition. Sustainability, 10(6), 1745. doi: 10.3390/su10061745.
26. 26. Siankwilimba, E., Hoque, M.E., Gapsari, F., Harmayanti, A., Gunawan, P., Hang’ombe, B.M. (2025). Exploring agricultural circular economy models in emerging bioecosystems: Opportunities and challenges. Sustainable Futures, 9, 100723. doi: 10.1016/j.sftr.2025.100723.
27. 27. Swastika, D.K.S., Priyanti, A., Hasibuan, A.M., Sahara, D., Arya, N.N., Malik, A., Ilham, N., Sayekti, A.L., Triastono, J., Asnawi, R., Sugandi, D., Hayati, N.Q., Atman, A. (2024). Pursuing circular economics through the integrated crop-livestock systems: An integrative review on practices, strategies and challenges post Green Revolution in Indonesia. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 18, 101269. doi: 10.1016/j.jafr.2024.101269.
28. 28. Vlada Republike Srbije (2024). Integrisani nacionalni energetski i klimatski plan Republike Srbije za period do 2030. godine sa vizijom do 2050. godine. „Službeni glasnik RS“, broj 70/2024-59.
29. 29. Čule, N., Đorđević, I., Brašanac-Bosanac, Lj., Rakonjac, Lj., Lučić, A., Češljar. G. (2025). Mapa puta za bioekonomiju u Republici Srbiji. Institut za šumarstvo, Beograd.