Factsheet: Portuguese Bioeconomy

Portugal’s bioeconomy employs ~620,000 people with €25 billion added value, spanning agrifood, forestry/wood, water, bioenergy and biomaterials. Agriculture uses 3.6 Mha (39% of land) with olives, vineyards, orchards and cereals as leading crops; forests cover 36% of territory and underpin world-leading cork production plus strong wood, pulp & paper industries. Fisheries generate >€300 million and aquaculture-now ~€100 million-has more than doubled in two decades. Bioenergy capacity includes 679 MW of forest-biomass power (440 MW in CHP) and pellet plants exceeding 1.7 Mt yr-¹. Despite sufficient residual biomass to support commercial biochemicals, few biorefineries operate (mainly forestry-based), leaving many streams underused or low-value. Policy drivers include the Sustainable Bioeconomy Action Plan, National Circular Economy Action Plan, Blue Bioeconomy Roadmap, and the National Plan for the Promotion of Biorefineries, with a growing biotech start-up ecosystem and small-scale solutions (e.g., Agro Grin Tech, AlgaPlus, Aquaponics Iberia, Landratech, Pit Evolution, Ecotoro).