German Bioeconomy: Sectoral Employment and Value Added Statistics

The German bioeconomy spans all sectors using renewable biological resources to produce goods and services via innovative biological and technological processes. It includes agriculture, forestry, energy, fisheries, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, industrial biotechnology, cosmetics, paper, textiles, and environmental protection. In 2021, it contributed €165–265 billion (5–6% of GDP), employed 3.1–3.6 million people (9% of workforce), and generated over 4,000 annual patents. Key sectors: food and beverages (983.1k jobs, 68.3% value added), wood products (299.5k jobs, 15.6%), and bio-based chemicals/pharmaceuticals (15.8k jobs, 12%). The national strategy promotes sustainability, climate neutrality, innovation, and international collaboration.