Circular Biotechnologies: Applications and Regulatory Limits

Event organized by OnFoods Foundation, Cluster Agrifood Nazionale (CL.A.N.), Federalimentare, ENEA and ICESP.

OnFoods is an active partnership in major areas of food research – from nutritional quality to food safety, from supply chain sustainability to process innovation – and is structured into seven major thematic research groups (called Spokes): true centers of excellence in personalized nutrition, food quality and safety, sustainable food systems, circular economy, digital and robotic technologies, food education, and supply chain innovation. OnFoods joins Cibus Tec Forum to offer scientific content, concrete projects, and technology transfer opportunities, creating highvalue connections between academia and industry.

Founded in 1982 within Confindustria, Federalimentare represents and protects the Italian food and beverage industry, the country’s second-largest manufacturing sector. With an annual turnover of over €197 billion, it contributes approximately 9% to the national GDP (2024 data). Through its national trade associations, Federalimentare brings together thousands of manufacturing companies committed to enhancing the excellence of Made in Italy food products. Working alongside Italian institutions, the Federation promotes a healthy, balanced, and sustainable food model, based on safety and quality standards. Federalimentare supports the strong export orientation of food and beverage companies, promoting the values of Italian food and wine culture around the world, while safeguarding Made in Italy excellence from counterfeiting. Aware of the needs of businesses and encouraging research and innovation while fully respecting tradition, Federalimentare addresses new consumer demands and market developments. Proud to represent one of the leading sectors of the Italian economy—at the heart of the main economic supply chain in both Italy and the European Union—the Federation defends its interests at national, European, and international levels.

Cl.uster A.grifood N.azionale (CL.A.N.) is a widely recognised multi-stakeholder association in the agri-food sector that brings together companies, trade associations, universities, research organisations, training bodies and local representatives operating in the agri-food sector. It was set up to promote, defend and boost development of the agri-food industry, from agricultural production to processing and related industrial sectors, by driving innovation, publicising research results, creating new skills and fostering collaboration between research, businesses, institutions and public administration. Since 2019, the Italian Ministry of University and Research has acknowledged the role played by CL.A.N. as a steering committee and a single point of contact for relations with national and European institutions regarding research and innovation in the agri-food sector.

Assobiotec is the Italian national association for the development of biotechnology. Part of Federchimica, the Federation of the Italian Chemical Industry within Confindustria, Assobiotec represents a strategic sector for the country's innovation and competitiveness. The association brings together over 110 organizations operating in Italy, employing around 6,000 professionals in biotech and generating a total turnover of nearly 18 billion euros. These include companies, IRCCS (Scientific Institutes for Research, Hospitalization and Healthcare), technology parks, and research centers working in the main biotech application areas: healthcare, agriculture and food, environment and sustainability, and industrial processes. A diverse ecosystem in terms of size and specialization, united by a common vision: to innovate through biotechnology in order to build a more sustainable, competitive, and secure future. Founded in 1986, Assobiotec is a founding member of EuropaBio, the European Association for Bioindustries, of the European Biosolutions Coalition, and of ICBA, the International Council of Biotechnology Associations. In Italy, through Federchimica, it is also a founding member of ALISEI, the National Life Sciences Cluster. It actively and continuously participates in the activities of the Blue Growth Cluster and the National Agrifood Cluster (CL.A.N.).

ENEA is the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy, and Sustainable Economic Development. The Department of Sustainability of Productive and Territorial Systems (SSPT) has the mission to develop eco-innovation in production and consumption systems, contributing to the implementation of national strategies and policies and encouraging more efficient and sustainable supply models. Within the Department, the Sustainable Food Systems Division (SSPT-AGROS) focuses on innovation for the competitiveness of food production, promoting supply chain and territorial district approaches.

ICESP – The Italian Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform, coordinated by ENEA, is a network whose goal is to create a national point of convergence for initiatives, experiences, challenges, perspectives, and expectations regarding the circular economy. It aims to represent, with a unified voice, what Italy wants and is able to contribute to Europe, promoting the Italian approach to the circular economy also through specific dedicated actions. Launched as a joint initiative of the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE) and ENEA, in collaboration with the Foundation for Sustainable Development, ICESP brings together the main Italian stakeholders in the field of circular economy.

Session overview

Recent European directives, such as the Green Deal, the Bioeconomy Strategy, and the REACH regulation, are pushing for the adoption of circular biotechnologies as a solution to reduce the ecological footprint of industry. These technologies promote decarbonization, waste reduction, and a more efficient use of resources.

Circular biotechnologies, particularly those related to new genomic techniques (NGTs), the development of novel foods, and biological products for agriculture, offer significant potential to address food security, sustainability, and disease resistance.

Nevertheless, their full adoption is hindered by regulatory challenges. The complexity of biotechnological products and processes makes it difficult to balance innovation, safety, and public acceptance. This issue is being addressed with various stakeholders, including key figures from both research and industry.

With the goal of overcoming these challenges to fully exploit the potential of circular biotechnologies, ICESP, as the Italian platform for the circular economy promoted by ENEA, aims to strengthen its role in promoting the dissemination of sustainable biotechnologies and innovative solutions based on biomass and biotechnological processes.

The event will be held in Italian