Italian Bioeconomy: Biomass, Circular Transition, and Sector Challenges

The Italian bioeconomy contributes EUR 254 billion to the economy and supports 1.6 million jobs, yet remains under-protected. It uses over 120,000 kt of biomass annually, half imported. Domestic production falls short of demand, but exported biomass carries high added value due to quality. The food and feed sector is the largest consumer (60,000 kt), driven by the 'Made in Italy' brand, now threatened by counterfeit products. Italy ranks third globally in food industry turnover (EUR 132 billion in 2014) with 106 PDO, 161 PGI, and 2 TSG designations. Biomass losses account for 40,000 kt (33% of total), highlighting the need for circular economy adoption. Regulatory barriers hinder reuse of agricultural, food, and forestry byproducts. Bioenergy and biomaterials contribute less than 2% of turnover. Forestry remains underdeveloped: only 15.3% of forest land is actively managed, with harvest rates (18.4–37.4%) far below the European average (73%).