🇫🇷🇦🇺France-Australia Webinar: Circular and Sustainable bioeconomy

📍 Canberra, July 23, 2025

​

On 23 July 2025, AFRAN, together with the Embassy of France to Australia, hosted a high-level hybrid webinar on circular and sustainable bioeconomy, at the Australian National University and online. The event gathered over 100 participants across France and Australia, reflecting a strong interest in the opportunities and challenges in this fast-growing field.

​

 

The Ambassador of France to Australia, HE Pierre-André Imbert, opened the discussions by highlighting bioeconomy’s role in addressing global challenges – from resource scarcity and climate impacts to biodiversity loss – while also creating jobs and value, and supporting local communities. He reminded the audience that in France, bioeconomy already represents €300 billion and 1.8 million jobs, cutting across many sectors such as agriculture, forestry, bioenergy, biomaterials and biochemistry.

​

 

Policy perspectives were then explored. Baptiste Meunier, Head of Unit for Bioeconomy at the French Ministry of Agriculture, presented France’s national strategy launched in 2017, built on four priorities: boosting sustainable biomass production, transforming resources into high-value products, fostering a strong bio-based industry, and ensuring public engagement. He also noted the “biomass bottleneck” challenge, stressing the need for careful governance, and cascading use of resources which includes circularity. Keiran Andrusko then presented the perspective of the Australian Government (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry), and explained that while Australia does not have a strategy dedicated to bioeconomy, its principles are embedded in waste and circular economy policies.

​

 

The webinar then featured 10 short presentations of inspiring projects and innovations in the field of bioeconomy.

​

 

Barry Irvin AM, Executive Chairman of Bega Cheese, described how the valley’s mix of forestry, aquaculture and dairy industries has fostered a cooperative model to build the “world’s most circular valley”. Tom Doron of the French Avril Group presented Oleo100, a 100% plant-based renewable fuel made from French rapeseed, already reducing emissions by 60% compared to conventional diesel. Sam Elsom, CEO of Sea Forest, shared Australia’s breakthrough in cultivating the red seaweed Asparagopsis, which can cut methane emissions from cattle by over 80%, opening major opportunities for low-methane livestock production. Matthieu Plante, co-founder of French start-up W Platform, presented technologies for the capture of CO₂ from wineries and breweries, transforming a waste stream into a resource for reuse in wine-making, algae cultivation and even fuels – with first projects now being explored in Australia. Julian Howard of the French Group Veolia presented the company’s experience with anaerobic digestion, a technology that turns organic waste into renewable energy, fertiliser, and carbon credits, with facilities already operating in New South Wales and Europe. Julien Meimon, founder of Linkee, shared how his organisation rescues surplus edible food and redistributes it directly to students and vulnerable populations, demonstrating that circular bioeconomy must also mean resource justice and inclusion.

​

 

Innovation in materials and bioproducts was another strong focus. Dr Luigi Vandi (University of Queensland) showed how agricultural waste like sugarcane fibre or macadamia shells, can be transformed into biodegradable plastics and films, including fully compostable packaging now being tested with several Australian industries. Colin Scott of Uluu introduced seaweed-based polymers that are carbon-negative, recyclable and biodegradable, offering a sustainable alternative to petroleum plastics. Karim Behlouli of Eco-technilin (France) highlighted Normandy’s leadership in flax fibre production, with composites already used in the automotive sector, reducing both weight and CO₂ emissions. Christophe Lombard from Algosource described projects coupling microalgae production with cement plants, capturing CO₂ emissions and turning them into valuable bio-based products.

​

 

Finally, Dr Maja Arsic from CSIRO Agriculture & Food brought a research perspective on the science–policy interface, stressing that achieving a true circular bioeconomy requires systemic change: integrating natural capital, designing policies that support innovation, and aligning governance across scales, from local initiatives to global frameworks.

​

 

The event closed with inspiring remarks by Anne-Sophie Dielen, who highlighted four key pillars for the future:

• Collaboration: stronger ties between countries, sectors and communities, are essential, as no single actor can solve global challenges alone.

• Policy and regulation: both countries must seize this early stage to set the right frameworks, learning from past mistakes and ensuring that rules encourage innovation while being inclusive.

• Social responsibility and future proofing: bioeconomy must help train the next generation, support rural and regional communities, and create opportunities for those with less access, ensuring long-term resilience.

• Equality and diversity: sustainable transformation requires a diversity of voices and perspectives at the decision-making table to design solutions that work for all.

​

 

This webinar brought to light the complementarities between France and Australia: France with its structured strategy, strong and well-connected research, and industrial ecosystems; and Australia with its resource potential, efficient governance and innovation capacity. Together, both countries can play a leading role in building a sustainable and circular future.