The Joint Research Centre (JRC) is proud to continue its longstanding partnership with the EUBCE, providing scientific coordination and strategic guidance to this conference. Over the years the event has become a leading global platform for excellence and innovation for the biomass community.

Biomass, biofuels, bioenergy and biomaterials offer essential pathways for decarbonisation across energy, transport, industry and agriculture. This conference addresses the significant challenges we are facing: sourcing sustainable feedstock without compromising land use, biodiversity, or food security; strengthening supply chains to scale bio-based solutions; bridging the gap between research, innovation and commercial deployment; and securing financing for industrial-scale applications.

Industrial deployment remains a critical hurdle, as many promising technologies are stuck at pilot scale. Accelerating the deployment of advanced biofuels, integrated biorefineries, biomass integrated systems with other renewables and circular value chains is essential to bring bio-based solutions to market. Digitalization – ranging from AI to GIS and remote sensing – will be key to optimizing biomass production and utilization while minimizing environmental impacts.

At the JRC, our scientists provide independent, evidence-based knowledge and science to support European Union policies and positively impact society. JRC has developed a sophisticated ecosystem of data models, methodologies and tools to assess emissions, resource impacts and system-wide trade-offs across environmental, social, and economic dimensions, ensuring biomass solutions deliver genuine climate benefits.

I extend my warmest welcome to all members of the biomass community – scientists, professionals, industry leaders, policy makers to our event in Den Haag.