BiOrbic, leading the drive for the bioeconomy to be the cornerstone of the Irish economy.

BiOrbic, Ireland’s national bioeconomy research centre, is at the forefront of Ireland’s drive to build a sustainable, circular bioeconomy powered by innovation and collaboration. The Centre which receives funding from Research Ireland and others, brings together a critical mass of researchers to work with industry practitioners, policymakers, primary producers and societal actors to reshape how Ireland produces, consumes, and manages resources—unlocking solutions and opportunities that benefit communities, businesses, and the planet for generations to come.

BiOrbic’s vision places the bioeconomy as a cornerstone of national and global development, fostering regeneration, resilience, and a just future where society thrives alongside nature. It pursues this ambition through interdisciplinary research and innovation with collaboration core to everything it does. 

“We recognise that a thriving economy cannot be developed in universities alone”, says Prof Kevin O’Connor, Director at BiOrbic. ‘It cannot be developed through policy initiatives and industry cannot do it on their own. All of these groups need to come together to work with producers, communities, consumers and citizens. BiOrbic creates a focused platform for all these groups to come together, to share knowledge, real world perspectives, expertise and best practice”.

The Bioeconomy
While humans have used bio-based resources for millennia -think of wood for construction, wool for clothing, natural resin and oil adhesives, fermented products etc, the bioeconomy as an economic system based on the sustainable production and use of renewable biological resources has been gaining significant momentum in recent years driven by scientific and technological advancements and as a proactive means to address the climate crisis. At its core the bioeconomy is about moving society away from a dependence on fossil resources to using renewable resources from agriculture, forestry and the marine to produce food, feed, materials and energy. Added to this are opportunities to transform what might traditionally be considered as waste into valuable products.

A challenge-based approach
BiOrbic’s approach is challenge,-based recognising the complexity and interconnected nature of the bioeconomy.

“Broadly speaking we look to combine three bioeconomy lenses, that of bio-ecology, bio-resources and bio-technology” says Prof Kevin O’Connor.  “The balance between a healthy planet, and supporting economic and societal advancement within a circular system is at the core of what we do”.

BiOrbic integrates fundamental academic-led research with targeted industry-led research projects, ensuring that innovation and practical impacts progress side by side. Dedicated challenge teams which include academics, industry practitioners and societal actors, tackle national priority areas of global significance, ranging from healthy ecosystems to circular resource use.
“Working with industry is essential to what we are trying to achieve” says Derek O’Brien, Executive Director at BiOrbic.

“We have seen more and more companies, from SMEs right up to large Irish and international companies come to us to help them address current business and technical challenges and to diversity and help future proof in an increasingly unpredictable economic landscape”.

One the benefits for industry in working with BiOrbic is that it connects expertise from across twelve different universities, together in one place. Typically when we first meet a partner we sit down with them to understand what they are trying to achieve and the challenges they are facing. We then look to develop a tailored collaborative work programme to address this. The Centre has recently invited expressions of interest from researchers and industry to collaborate on projects that will help drive Ireland’s transition to a sustainable, circular bioeconomy. Further details are available at biorbic.com.

Agriculture front and centre
Agriculture plays a central role in the bioeconomy and in particular in an Irish context, acting as a major source of renewable biological resources while facing the urgent challenge of becoming climate neutral and more sustainable.
BiOrbic’s is leading a number of activities like Farm Zero C, pioneering (in partnership with Carbery Group) this transition by demonstrating the world's first commercial carbon-neutral and nature-friendly dairy farm in West Cork, Ireland. This interdisciplinary initiative focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions by optimizing energy use, enhancing soil carbon sequestration through multi-species swards, improving animal diets to lower methane emissions, and promoting biodiversity to reduce reliance on pesticides and fertilizers.

“Initiatives like this illustrate how agriculture can meet environmental goals while remaining economically viable for farmers and rural communities” says Professor Tommy Boland (UCD) who leads BiOrbic’s Animal Agriculture Challenge.

“Beyond emissions reduction, agriculture's integration into the bioeconomy opens pathways for circular resource flows and value addition. For example, residual agri-food biomass is being converted into high-value bioproducts through technologies such as pyrolysis, supporting both carbon sequestration and new revenue streams for farmers”.

Looking ahead

Highlighting the pace at which the bioeconomy is progressing, the next twelve months look set to be significant for the bioeconomy in Ireland. Bioeconomy Ireland Week 2025 takes place from Monday 13 October to Sunday 19 October 2025 where a series of activities and events will take place around the country, showcasing and celebrating the bioeconomy in Ireland. 2026 will see Ireland publish its first National Bioeconomy Strategy, building on the Bioeconomy Action Plan 2023-2025.

The country will also host the Global Bioeconomy Summit in September 2026, following on from the All-Ireland Bioeconomy Summit taking place on 19 May 2026.
“We are very positive about the future” says Derek O’Brien.

“The importance of the bioeconomy is clearly recognised and with industry, academia, primary producers, policy makers, investors and key societal actors all now moving in the same direction.

BiOrbic is delighted to help solidify this cohesive effort acting as a national hub. This will only strengthen Ireland’s capabilities in achieving climate neutrality, resource efficiency, rural regeneration, and economic competitiveness within a just and sustainable bioeconomy”.