Estonia

Estonia is a Northern European country located on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea. It spans an area of 45,339 square kilometers and has a population of approximately 1.3 million people. Forests are covering approximately 51% of its territory—equal to about 2.3 million hectares—making forestry a cornerstone of the bioeconomy. Additionally, over 22% of the land is used for agriculture, with a focus on cultivating cereals, oilseeds, and biomass for renewable energy. The fisheries and aquaculture sectors, fueled by Estonia’s 3,800 kilometers of coastline, also contribute significantly to the economy.

Bioeconomy Policy Framework

The development of bioeconomy in Estonia is divided between the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture, the Ministries of Climate, Education and Research and Economic Affairs and Communications. The activities of the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture aim to increase the efficient and sustainable use and valorization of bioresources in agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture, and the food industry. In Estonia, sectors related to the bioeconomy contribute approximately 13% to the economy’s added value and account for 17% of exports (around 2 billion euros), while also providing employment for 12% of the workforce (as of 2019).

Current bioeconomy strategies and development trends

The circular bioeconomy roadmap defines the broad fields of activities for the development of the circular bioeconomy in Estonia and the activities necessary for its development in the short term (2023–2027) and in the long term (until 2035). In addition, subsidy investments aimed at expanding the processing capacity of bioresources and enhancing the valorization of residues, waste, and by-products of biological origin.

visit the Estonian HUB

The HUB aims to facilitate collaboration, promote innovation, provide resources, enhance knowledge sharing, support policy development, engage the community, secure funding, promote sustainability, and build partnerships to advance the circular bioeconomy.

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Bioeconomy related projects

  • ShapingBio – Aim is to support and accelerate bioeconomy innovation and the deployment of new knowledge in the EU and its member states.
  • The BOOST4BIOEAST project aims to set in motion the levers for bioeconomy deployment in the Central Eastern European and Baltic countries.
  • The BioBoosters project brings together bio-based businesses in rural areas to share the know-how in circular production, and trigger green business opportunities.
  • BioBaltic – Nordic-Baltic Cooperation on circular bioeconomy.
  • ADDVAL-BIOEC – Adding value and making more efficient use of raw materials in the bioeconomy and its sectors.

National contact point

Main role is to help navigate national and international projects, offer advice on regulatory frameworks, and assist in identifying collaborative opportunities across sectors such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and waste management. Also coordinate the national views with other bioeconomy related ministries. The main contact point is Iris Kuhi, Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture, Agri-environment Policy Department.

Address

Suur-Ameerika 1 | 10122 Tallinn, Estonia

Contact

iris.kuhi@agri.ee

Useful links

ShapingBio

BioBoosters

BioBaltic

ADDVAL-BIOEC