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Discover the Key Plenary Sessions at EUBCE 2026
Join leading experts from academia, industry, and policy to explore the latest developments in the bioeconomy and bioenergy sectors. From sustainable value chains to advanced bioenergy integration, these plenary sessions will offer valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities shaping the future.
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How can we build truly sustainable biomass value chains?
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What is the real environmental footprint of the bioeconomy?
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How can bioenergy technologies be better integrated into future energy systems?
Explore the highlights below and plan your participation.
Preview by
Dr. David Baxter
Former European Commission JRC,
EUBCE ExCo Member
Realising Sustainable Value Chains
Plenary Session AP.1 – Tuesday 13.45-14.45
This plenary session will address the development of maintenance of sustainable value chains for biomass and its utilisation in the emerging bioeconomy.
The first presentation, by Birka Wicke, Radboud University, looks at the growth of a bioeconomy without borders and assesses the environmental footprint of EU27. The study upon which the presentation has been prepared uses 2022 as a reference year and considers the EU’s environmental footprint, including impacts both inside and outside the EU and focusing on GHG emissions, land use change (LUC) emissions, land use, and scarcity-weighted water use, all using an environmentally extended multi-regional input-output (EE-MRIO) model. [...]
 The next presentation, by Yara Evans, Imperial College London, considers advancing Public Perception and Social Acceptance for Socially Sustainable Bio-based Refinery Intermediates. The presentation examines how lessons from the Horizon 2020 BioMates project on social acceptance and public perception can inform the ongoing ABATE initiative, and the importance of trust, transparency, and fairness in public support. [...]
The final presentation, by Blanca De Ulibarri, Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB), addresses sustainability certification pathways for emerging low iLUC feedstocks with an emphasis on policy and certification insights coming from the CARINA European Project which focussed on integrating oil-seed crops into diversified farming systems.
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Sustainable Bio-based Value Chains
Plenary Session BP.1 – Wednesday 10.15-11.15
This plenary session addresses and models the availability, quality, and optimal use of wood as a biomass resource, and includes biomass crop potentials in the EU, cascading of wood use in a sustainable bioeconomy and low-ILUC industrial biomass crops.
In the first presentation, by Berien Elbersen, Wageningen Environmental Research, biomass from intermediate crops is among the newly added biofeedstocks for producing advance biofuels in the amended REDIII Annex IX. In this contribution insights in all current and future factors that determine the eventual biomass potential from intermediate crops are considered. [...] Results show that biomass production is significantly higher for intermediate crops added to existing crop rotations in the summer season then in the winter season.
 The second presentation, by Nadia Malinverno, Empa, covers the central role of wood in the bioeconomy by sequestering CO2 in woody biomass, storing carbon in materials, and substituting fossil resources. [...] Building on previous material flow analysis (MFA) of the Swiss wood value chain, a method was developed for scenario development that matches wood flows with applications based on quality and functional requirements. [...]
The final presentation in this session, by Ana Luisa Fernando, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, considers the cultivation of industrial crops on marginal land as a way of minimizing land use competition. Nineteen different biomass-to-product pathways were selected in the framework of the European MIDAS project, including Safflower, Lavender, Siberian Elm, Poplar, Switchgrass, Castor, Sorghum, Hemp, Guayule, Cardoon, Miscanthus, Crambe, as well as cropping systems (intercropping and agroforestry), in different regions of Europe. The work enabled identification of potential limitations associated with the cultivation of these industrial crops in marginal soils. [...]
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Bioenergy Integration
Plenary Session BP.2 – Wednesday 13.45-14.45
This plenary session addresses the broad question of integration of technologies in bioenergy value chains.
The first presentation, by Fabian Schipfer, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, covers some of the work of IEA Bioenergy Task 44, namely the underrepresentation of flexible bioenergy in energy system models and policy frameworks. Through conceptual development, technology assessment, best practice documentation, and policy recommendations, the Task demonstrates how integration of bioenergy technologies can lead to enhanced system reliability and reduce costs while supporting decarbonization. Results include a comprehensive technology portfolio, real-world case studies, and modelling evidence showing significant economic and reliability benefits. [...]
 The second presentation, by Scott Treadwell, SixRing Inc, demonstrates that the development and commercialization of new technologies is rarely a straightforward process from idea to execution. Markets and Science infrequently line up so simply as to provide a singular path forward, so that as a new technology moves through the TRL index, it is critical that a strategic and commercial mindset is retained, and that the weight of these considerations is increased the closer to commercialization a technology proceeds. [...]
The third presentation, by Gerd Unkelbach, UPM, covers the implementation of UPM’s lignocellulosic biorefinery for the production of sustainable chemicals and materials. The presentation provides a deep dive into the process configuration of UPM’s Leuna plant in Germany which will create bio-based drop-in alternatives to chemicals and materials currently produced from fossil raw materials offering high-quality, low carbon solutions for packaging, textiles, thermoplastics, resins, rubber and many other applications. [...]
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A Conference You Don’t Want to Miss
EUBCE 2026 is set to welcome a highly engaged and dynamic community of professionals from across the sector.
Take advantage of this unique opportunity to:
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Gain insights from leading experts
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Connect with key stakeholders
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Explore the latest innovations in the bioeconomy
Exhibition Fully Booked - Get Involved as a Sponsor
The exhibition is now fully booked, reflecting the strong interest in EUBCE 2026.
Companies can still enhance their visibility and networking opportunities through tailored sponsorship packages.
Get in touch to learn more
Conference Dinner – A Night to Remember!
May 20, 2026, 19:00, Kunstmuseum, The Hague
Housed in a breathtaking Art Deco masterpiece by Berlage, Kunstmuseum Den Haag has an international top collection, consisting of modern, contemporary and applied arts, photography and fashion: from Delft Blue to Van Gogh, from Monet to Louise Bourgeois. The museum also has the largest Mondrian collection in the world on permanent display.
Enjoy an exclusive evening in one of the Netherlands’ most renowned museums. Participants will have the opportunity to:
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Experience a guided tour of a world-class art collection
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Network in an inspiring setting
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Enjoy a memorable dining experience
With limited availability remaining, we encourage you to reserve your seat for an evening of connections, conversations, and fine dining
We Gratefully Acknowledge the Support of our Sponsors
Gold Sponsor
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As a technology provider, Synfuels China focuses on the R&D on Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) Synthesis technologies for Indirect Coal Liquefaction or Coal-to-Liquids (CTL) and Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) processes using coal, natural gas, or biomass as feedstocks, and has developed proprietary Medium-Temperature Slurry-Bed Fisch-Tropsch Process (MTSFTP) technology for the production of high-quality clean liquid fuels such as gasoline and diesel.
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Dinner Sponsor
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EcoEngineers is a consulting, auditing, and advisory firm with an exclusive focus on the energy transition. From innovation to impact, we help you navigate the disruption caused by carbon emissions and climate change. EcoEngineers helps you stay informed, measure emissions, make investment decisions, maintain compliance, and manage data through the lens of carbon accounting.
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Giuliano Grassi Prize Sponsor
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A pioneer in scholarly, open access publishing, MDPI has supported academic communities since 1996. Based in Basel, Switzerland, MDPI has the mission to foster open scientific exchange in all forms, across all disciplines. Their 509 diverse and open access journals, including 500 peer-reviewed journals and 9 conference journals, are supported by more than 295,000 academic experts who share their mission, values, and commitment to providing high-quality service for our authors. We serve scholars from around the world to ensure the latest research is freely available and all content is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY).
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