Focus on the foods of the future

This year, the theme in our tent is ’foods of the future’, with a special focus on proteins and rethinking how we view, taste, and create food in the years to come. Why is this important? Because the way we produce and consume food is changing. Climate change, resource scarcity, and new consumer habits are pushing us to think differently - especially when it comes to proteins, which are a key part of our diet.

When you visit our tent, you’ll have the opportunity to experience firsthand how research is shaping and developing the foods of the future. You can taste, explore, and learn about solutions that can help ensure sustainability, quality, and great taste when we gather around the dining table in the future.

What can you experience in the tent?

From May 21–23, 2026, we invite you into our tent, where we take you on a journey through the foods of the future, with a special focus on proteins.

Across almost all activities, we explore one central question: What does it take for a protein to become a food? The answer is far from simple - it unfolds through a series of engaging cases where you can meet the researchers behind the work and experience food research in practice.

Can you bake a cake without eggs?
In our first case, we dive into plant proteins as a substitute for eggs as ingredient. Here, you can learn why eggs are so difficult to replace and which functions proteins need to deliver in complex foods. You can experience how proteins function in foaming, emulsification, and gelation - and of course taste cake made with plant proteins as egg replacers. You can also explore ingredients such as soy, lupin, lentils, and chickpeas, and learn why research into plant-based alternatives is so important for the future of food.

Can we bake bread using grains other than wheat?
In another case, we focus on barley and investigate whether alternative grains can play a larger role in future bread production. Here, you can taste bread made with barley, wheat, and rye, participate in consumer studies, and learn what happens to proteins in the dough. You’ll also gain insight into how research on grains and proteins can contribute to more sustainable food systems.

Can sweet potatoes play a bigger role on our plates?
We also take a closer look at sweet potatoes and their potential in future foods. What is the difference between sweet potatoes and regular potatoes? Can they be grown in Nordic climates? And how can they contribute to greater diversity in our diets? You’ll have the chance to taste crispy sweet potato chips and take a closer look at the plants themselves.

Is cultured meat a solution for future protein?
Finally, you can learn more about cultured meat as a possible alternative to conventional meat production. We highlight climate impact and resource use and provide insight into how proteins are used in developing cultured meat. You can, for example, see visual comparisons of CO₂ footprints from different production methods and gain a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities within future animal-based foods.

Along the way, you’ll meet researchers from a wide range of the department’s research groups, ready to share their knowledge, answer your questions, and give you a unique insight into some of the latest food research - served fresh.

We look forward to welcoming you to three days full of taste, knowledge, and experiences!

Practical information

Opening hours

• Thursday, May 21: 14:00–18:00
• Friday, May 22: 10:00–18:00
• Saturday, May 23: 10:00–15:00

Admission to Madens Folkemøde is free.

Address
Torvet, 4800 Nykøbing Falster

The Department of Food Science tent location: Kirkepladsen

Visit the official Madens Folkemøde website.

With 140 core partners across 29 countries, a Head Office in Denmark and 8 Co-location Centres across Europe, EIT Water will begin work in 2026 by bringing industry, academia, the public sector and innovators into one central hub, creating the conditions for startups, new technologies, education programmes and innovation projects to grow around Europe’s most urgent water challenges.

In 2026, EIT will provide a 5 million EUR grant to establish the KIC and to develop EIT Water’s Strategic Agenda and first Business Plan. Complementing this, the PDJF funding will enable early pilot activities that bring together industry, academia and the public sector to test new approaches for water resilience, circularity and sustainable water management. These pilot activities will include open innovation calls, mapping of European demonstration sites and mentors, strategic planning efforts, and a series of entrepreneurial education activities such as hackathons across Europe. A significant share of the PDJF donation is also earmarked for open calls that support collaboration between researchers and industry.

“The Grundfos Foundation wishes to strengthen collaboration between research environments and industry within the water sector, providing a significant lift to European innovation in water technology. That is why EIT Water will directly support new cross-sectorial innovation partnerships,” explains Kim Nøhr Skibsted, Executive Director, Grundfos Foundation.

For more information, please contact communications@eitwater.eu

This is why Aarhus University will open a new specialisation in cybersecurity for MSc engineering students this summer.

“Denmark is one of the most digitalised countries in the world. Large parts of our communication, utility infrastructure, economy, business sector and public administration now run on digital platforms. This makes us vulnerable to cybercrime and cyberattacks, and society has an urgent need for highly specialised engineers with expertise in this field,” says Mikael Bergholz Knudsen, Head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Aarhus University.

University stepping up efforts

Wars no longer take place only on the frontline or through aerial bombardments and missile strikes. They also unfold in server rooms, networks and systems that keep society running.

Every website, email, app and smart device connected to the internet can potentially provide unauthorised access. A single attack can hit the power grid, disable hospitals’ IT systems or halt production in companies.

If we want to prevent attacks, we must stay ahead in technological development, emphasises Mikael Bergholz Knudsen:

“We need to move quickly. Many people underestimate our vulnerability, and we must educate engineers who can build far more robust security around our digital systems.”

Denmark is already facing a shortage of cyber engineers, and demand continues to grow. Several analyses point to a shortfall of 15,000–20,000 IT specialists in the coming years.

This concerns Mikkel Haarder, Deputy Director of the Confederation of Danish Industry (DI), responsible for research, education and diversity:

“The shortage of engineers with cybersecurity skills is already a challenge for many Danish companies. It affects both companies’ competitiveness and our overall resilience in a digital society.”

He therefore welcomes the new educational initiative at Aarhus University:

“It is very positive that Aarhus University is now strengthening the education of MSc engineers specialising in cybersecurity. Denmark needs a strong talent pipeline in this area – and the need is growing rapidly.”

Education strengthens Denmark’s digital defence

The new cyber engineers will learn to protect IT systems, networks and data against digital attacks, while developing a deep understanding of the defence-strategic dimensions of information security.

“Our students must learn to think like hostile hackers so that they can stay two steps ahead at all times. Research-based education plays a crucial role in strengthening Denmark’s overall digital defence,” says Mikael Bergholz Knudsen.

He elaborates:

“We can buy technology from abroad. We can sign contracts and upgrade defence systems. But we cannot import originality and judgement. We want to educate engineers who can analyse threats, understand people, assess consequences and translate knowledge into concrete technical choices and innovation in Danish companies.”

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Cybersecurity at AU

Strengthening cybersecurity is a key part of Aarhus University’s Strategy 2030.
Read the strategyic focus on cyber security here.

AU is investing DKK 300 million in research, education and innovation within cybersecurity.
Read more about AU Cyber here.

Want to learn more about cybersecurity?
Read about engineering research in cybersecurity at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Interested in cryptography?
Read about research in cryptography and cybersecurity at the Department of Computer Science.

Degree programmes with a focus on cybersecurity

At Aarhus University, students can specialise in cybersecurity in the MSc in Engineering programmes in Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering, as well as in the Master’s degree programme in Computer Science.

Associate Professor Freja Chabert Østerstrøm from the Department of Environmental Science at Aarhus University participated in the international research collaboration, in which 159 scientists from 21 countries analyzed the unusual eruption and its implications for climate and atmospheric chemistry.

“We have never before observed such large quantities of water vapor from a volcanic eruption. The amount corresponds to about 20 percent of the water content in the stratosphere across the entire Southern Hemisphere,” says Freja Chabert Østerstrøm.

An eruption of unprecedented power

The eruption began 150 meters below sea level and was so intense that the plume reached a height of 58 kilometers, the highest ever recorded in the satellite era. Parts of the plume even reached the mesosphere. Within the first hour, it had spread to a width of 400 km and ultimately reached a diameter of about 600 km.

The explosion injected about 150 million tons of water vapor into the stratosphere, roughly 10 percent of the stratosphere’s total water vapor. Most of the water came from seawater and magma, and because Hunga sat at an ideal depth beneath the sea, conditions were perfect for a so-called "wet explosive" eruption.

Under normal circumstances, the boundary between the troposphere and stratosphere, the tropopause, acts as a cold trap, preventing water vapor from rising. But this explosion was powerful enough to breach that barrier.

“What makes Hunga so special is the combination of water and sulfate particles that reached unprecedented altitudes. It has completely changed our view of what happens after a volcanic eruption. We simply didn’t think this was possible,” says Freja Chabert Østerstrøm.

The stratosphere is usually a dry and stable layer, where sunlight and low temperatures keep chemical reactions in check. But with the injection of water, significant changes occurred. Water affects temperature and accelerates chemical processes that deplete ozone, in part by forming hydroxyl radicals (OH), which help turn sulfur dioxide (about 0.5 million tons released) into sulfuric acid particles (sulfate aerosols).

“Water vapor has a dual effect. It cools the stratosphere but also shifts the chemical balance and particle formation. This allows reactions that typically occur only over the poles to happen elsewhere, and we’ve seen that here,” Østerstrøm explains.

In the months following the eruption, large ozone losses were recorded outside polar regions. Locally over the Southern Hemisphere, researchers observed up to 14% ozone loss and 22% hydrogen chloride (HCl) reduction in the mid-stratosphere, up to 5% ozone loss occurred within the first two weeks after the eruption, with up to 40% on a single day.

“It’s highly unusual. And it happened because the water vapor and volcanic particles accelerated reactions that break down ozone,” explains Freja Chabert Østerstrøm.

A volcano with limited climate effect

Large volcanic eruptions are normally associated with global cooling. Sulfuric acid particles formed from sulfur dioxide spread through the stratosphere and reflect sunlight. After Mount Pinatubo erupted in 1991, for example, global temperatures dropped by about 0.5 degrees for two years.

But the Hunga eruption defied that pattern. The water vapor counteracted the cooling from sulfur particles because water behaves very differently in the atmosphere. Water vapor absorbs heat and acts as a greenhouse gas, warming Earth’s surface.

“This is the first time we've seen this type of response from a volcanic eruption,” says Østerstrøm.

Climate models estimate the overall effect to be around -0.05°C during 2022–2023, making it difficult to detect. But it highlights the substantial impact water vapor can have in the stratosphere, forcing researchers to reconsider their assumptions in volcanic climate models.

New insights into supervolcanoes

One of the biggest surprises was how long the water remained in the atmosphere. It only began to dissipate in early 2024, nearly a year and a half after the eruption. In 2022, 78% of the water stayed in the Southern Hemisphere, and remnants of the plume remain measurable in 2025.

“The stratosphere simply isn’t designed to handle that much water. It changes how we understand atmospheric chemistry, and also how we interpret earlier supervolcano eruptions,” explains Østerstrøm.

The Hunga eruption injected such a massive amount of water that it could indirectly inform us about what might have happened during even larger, prehistoric eruptions, so-called supervolcanoes. Since we’ve never before had the technology to measure such water quantities, Hunga becomes a key example in future climate models.

“The Hunga eruption was unlike anything observed before,” says Yunqian Zhu, research associate at the University of Colorado Boulder and one of the main authors of the report. “It taught us how profoundly water-rich eruptions can affect the stratosphere and how essential global cooperation is in capturing and understanding such rare events.”

How water vapor affects the ozone layer

• Normally absent in the stratosphere, water vapor disrupts its stability.
• Rising water vapor changes temperature and triggers new chemical reactions.
• Water reacts with sulfur dioxide (SO₂) to form sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄), which condenses into aerosols.
• These aerosols serve as reaction surfaces where harmful halogen compounds (like HCl) are transformed into free radicals.
• These radicals destroy ozone (O₃), not only over the poles but also in tropical and mid-latitudes.
• The result: lower ozone levels, increased surface UV radiation, and changes in atmospheric energy balance.

Associate Professor Freja Chabert Østerstrøm 
Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University 
Mail: freja@envs.au.dk
Tel.: +4587150623

The new facility aims to pave the way for a new generation of sustainable foods while addressing some of the greatest challenges in the global food system.

“If we are to achieve a sustainable carbon cycle without relying on fossil resources, this kind of technology is absolutely essential,” says Professor Lasse Rosendahl, Director of the Novo Nordisk Foundation CO₂ Research Center (CORC), which has funded and operates the plant.

From CO₂ and electricity to functional proteins

The facility serves as a prototype of a future protein factory. In an oxygen-free reactor, CO₂ and hydrogen are first converted into acetic acid. Then, yeast cells feed on the acid and grow into a protein-rich biomass.

“The biomass is a big mishmash of all kinds of proteins,” explains Anne Louise Dannesboe Nielsen, Head of the Department of Food Science at Aarhus University. “But our hope is that we can extract proteins with functional properties and a neutral taste through simple purification. Proteins that can, for example, bind water in a mayonnaise or form foam on a cappuccino.”

In the long term, such proteins could potentially replace eggs or milk in ready-made meals, or be developed into entirely new products with a climate-friendly profile.

A supplement to agriculture and not a replacement

The plant in Foulum currently uses CO₂ from Aarhus University’s nearby biogas facility. But the technology is designed to also use CO₂ from air, seawater, or industrial point sources like flue gas. This opens the door to producing food in places where agriculture isn’t possible, such as deserts, urban areas, or small islands. And all without fertilizers, pesticides, or large quantities of water.

“Because of the climate and biodiversity crises, land used for conventional agriculture is being increasingly withdrawn,” says Thomas Lundgaard, Deputy Head of Department at the Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering.

He continues: 

“That means we need alternatives to supplement traditional farming and with this technology, we hope to produce food without needing agricultural land.”

The pilot plant sets the stage for full-scale production

The facility is a pilot plant – not yet ready for industrial-scale production. Significant research and development are still needed. The next step is to explore how the biomass can be purified and applied in food production, and whether this can be done efficiently and cost-effectively.

One key aim is to examine the techno-economic framework and assess whether a viable business case can be established, the foundation for what is currently a fledgling industry.

“We’re also building a digital twin using data from over 200 sensors,” says Lasse Rosendahl.
“It will help future investors assess both risk and potential, enabling a faster path from pilot to full-scale implementation.”

And building the plant at real-life scale is absolutely crucial, emphasizes Professor Lars Ottosen, Head of the Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering:

“These processes can only become efficient and viable if we’re able to integrate them properly. If not, the benefits are lost. You have to study them in combination and that requires building them. You can’t just analyze your way to integration in a lab flask. Practical process integration is what makes the difference.”

In short: realizing the full potential of this technology requires connecting science and engineering in the real world. That’s exactly what the pilot plant at AU Viborg enables. But the long-term vision goes even further, underlines Lasse Rosendahl:

“We want to create a setup that is internationally attractive and leading – supporting our researchers while also establishing a European powerhouse. With this platform, Danish food research holds something truly unique: a combined strength in sustainable food and protein production and in carbon capture and utilization (CCU).”

And last night the news came: Allwaters has won the call, and Denmark will now host the headquarters for the upcoming Water Knowledge and Innovation Community in Europe, EIT Water. This marks an important step towards safeguarding Europe’s water resources and delivering innovations that can address the pressure on the continent’s water systems.

“It’s fantastic! The culmination of a huge team effort from all the talented and dedicated partners in the Allwaters consortium. EIT Water will be a tremendous boost in bringing existing knowledge into play and securing new insights in areas where we are lagging behind. That’s crucial if we as a society want to achieve our ambitions,” says Kim Nøhr Skibsted, Executive Director of the Grundfos Foundation.

Businesses see new opportunities

The new EIT Water will support innovation in technological solutions, talent development and entrepreneurship, and create businesses across Europe to tackle global challenges such as pollution, drought, climate change and clean water. The initiative connects researchers, educators and entrepreneurs with Europe’s largest innovation network and will cover all types of water – from drinking water and wastewater to lakes, rivers and the surrounding seas.

The Danish water sector has backed Allwaters from the beginning. Supporters include Grundfos, Danfoss, DI, Water Valley Denmark, DANVA, HOFOR, Aarhus Vand, Aalborg University, the University of Southern Denmark, Aarsleff, SEGES and Kamstrup.

“For the Danish water sector, this is a decisive step towards strengthening our global leadership in water technology. It opens the door to more innovation, increased exports and the green transition – and helps turn research into solutions that make a real difference for the climate and water resources worldwide. As an industry, we should be proud that together we are creating results that reach far beyond our borders,” says Søren Kvorning, CEO of Kamstrup.

Backed by hundreds of millions of euros

EIT Water will receive a start-up grant of €5 million in 2026 and is expected to be fully operational by 2027. Over its 15-year funding period, EIT Water is expected to raise several hundred million euros in EIT funds and attract companies, investors, stakeholders and international talent within the water sector. This is in addition to external funds that the new Knowledge and Innovation Community will secure.

“This amazing achievement shows what is possible when vision meets collaboration. We are thrilled with the outcome and proud of how Allwaters partners and stakeholders have united behind a powerful mission for Europe. From the Aarhus University Project Office, we deeply value the engagement, expertise and trust that define the Allwaters consortium. Now, we look forward to turning ambition into action together with EIT, working together to create lasting impact on the water, marine and maritime sectors across Europe,” says Michelle Williams, Vice-Dean at Aarhus University and head of the Allwaters project office.

Allwaters was selected as the winner following an expert evaluation and a hearing before the EIT Board, which cited the consortium’s broad representation across Europe as a key reason for its decision. EIT achieves its goals through collaboration between research, education and innovation with strong involvement from European industry.

Headquarters to be located in Aarhus

Companies, universities, public institutions, foundations, research organisations and various clusters collaborated on the application for EIT Water. The European headquarters will be located in Vandets Hus (House of Water) in Aarhus, with eight Co-Location Centres spread across Europe.

One of these eight Co-Location Centres will also be based in Aarhus. Here, Water Valley Denmark, as the innovation network for the Danish water sector, has gathered Nordic partners in Allwaters to establish the Nordic Co-Location Centre for Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland. The other centres will be located in Germany, Belgium, Austria, Croatia, Spain, Bulgaria and the United Kingdom.

“This is the first time Denmark has secured such a central position in European research and innovation, and it is a major recognition of our strong water sector. We have a proud tradition of collaboration between universities, public organisations and industry, and now we can help extend that tradition across Europe. For us at Aarhus University, it has been exciting to bring together so many partners, and we hope to involve even more in the new community in the future for the benefit of tomorrow’s water,” says Eskild Holm Nielsen, Dean of the Faculty of Technical Sciences at Aarhus University.

The Danish Parliament has granted DKK 21 million as co-financing for the Danish headquarters and the Nordic Co-Location Centre. In addition, the Grundfos Foundation has pledged further support for innovation activities.

Facts: What Are EIT and KIC?

EIT stands for the European Institute of Innovation and Technology. It is an EU organisation that promotes research, innovation and entrepreneurship in Europe.

EIT has now established ten Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), each addressing a specific global challenge, from climate change, sustainable energy and urban mobility to the digitalisation of our society.

The EIT Water whose headquarters has just been placed in Denmark focuses on challenges related to water: drinking water, wastewater, lakes, rivers and the surrounding seas – all forms of water. That is why the Danish-led consortium has been named Allwaters.

Organisationally, EIT Water will have a headquarters and eight Co-Location Centres across Europe. Allwaters will place both its headquarters and its northern Co-Location Centre for Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland in Aarhus.

Contacts

Kim Nøhr Skibsted – kskibsted@grundfos.com / +45 30 52 50 20

Eskild Holm Nielsen – dean.tech@au.dk / +45 21 22 95 11 or via Niels Kjær Olsen – niol@au.dk / +45 29 69 12 91

Søren Kvorning via Mads Husted Nielsen – mahd@kamstrup.com / +45 89 93 10 00

Press contact: Niels Kjær Olsen – niol@au.dk / +45 29 69 12 91

See more about the Allwaters consortium at allwaters.eu – Read more about EIT at eit.europa.eu.

“Agriculture has become more professional—and you notice that as a biologist,” says Flemming Kofoed, Chair of the Holstebro branch of the Danish Society for Nature Conservation and member of the local tripartite group near Nissum Fjord. “There’s more attention to what life is like on the farm, and knowledge is being brought into play. I sense a new willingness to find solutions.”

Just a few decades ago, these actors might have been entrenched in opposition. Today, they sit down together to negotiate—with support from advisors, researchers and new technologies. Kofoed is one of many involved in the local tripartite groups, where a major generational shift, new funding mechanisms and technical progress have created new conditions for cooperation. And it’s working:

“We’re making real headway in river valleys and low-lying areas, without conflict with farmers. The tone has changed.”

The Danish approach to land use and agriculture is attracting growing international attention. The question now is whether the green tripartite can be exported. What does it take to create local cooperation? Can this model work in countries with very different traditions of land management?

A Danish model with European attention

According to Jørgen E. Olesen, Professor at Aarhus University, the results arise from a combination of factors:

“We need more technology. It’s technology that solves things. We have an advisory system that works directly with farmers. We have research-based knowledge, political will and funding. There are many countries where these conditions aren’t in place. The green tripartite is not something you can simply export—but you can learn what’s required.”

He adds that technology must be accompanied by business models that make sense for farmers:

“Many of the solutions we want are only possible because the technology exists. But there’s not always willingness to pay—so it also has to make financial sense.”

The Danish model for green agricultural transformation is gaining increasing international interest. During European Mission Soil Week 2025, held on 5–6 November at Aarhus University, the tripartite model is one of the most discussed topics.

According to Diego Canga Fano, Acting Deputy Director-General at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development:

“Denmark deserves particular recognition for its leadership in sustainable agriculture. You’re showing that productivity and environmental care can go hand in hand. Danish farmers have long understood that healthy soil is the foundation—not just for production, but also for resilience and sustainability.”

Eskild Holm Nielsen, Dean of the Faculty of Technical Sciences and host of the conference, emphasises the broader perspective and the importance of research and shared goals:

“Soil is more than something we stand on. It supports plants, animals and people. It feeds us, stores carbon, purifies water and stabilises the climate. It reminds us that the mission is not only a scientific effort, but also a shared European goal—one that depends on cooperation between researchers, policymakers, and citizens.”

Grass, cooperation and business models

Technological development is also enabling new crops and business models. Klaus Kristensen, a cattle farmer, sees great potential in grass and biomass:

“Grass is one of the most effective crops for improving soil health. And with new technology, we can extract protein and use it for feed. That would be like gold from the sky.”

Christian Høegh-Andersen, Deputy Chair of the Danish Agriculture & Food Council, agrees:

“Grass has a big future in Danish agriculture. It has many uses, and I think we’ll see even broader applications—in biogas, biorefining and textiles.”

These technologies pave the way for a green transition—but they require investment and the right framework conditions.

“Most farmers would rather deliver on nature than pay a tax,” says Kristensen.

A shared European goal for healthy soils

Denmark’s green tripartite model is increasingly being followed in Brussels and other European capitals—especially in light of Mission Soil, one of the EU’s five flagship missions under Horizon Europe. The aim is for at least 75% of Europe’s soils to be healthy by 2030. To reach that goal, local partnerships, public engagement and knowledge-based action are essential.

Here, the green tripartite stands out—not as a technocratic solution, but as a collaborative model where municipalities, landowners, NGOs and public authorities all have a seat at the table.

“The main lesson others can learn from us is bringing all parties to the table,” says Maria Schack Vindum, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for the Green Tripartite. “Not necessarily regulating everything from the top—but setting visions and goals, giving local ownership, and mediating between stakeholders.”

She continues:

“It’s a national plan, but it’s the local partnerships—in close cooperation with landowners, citizens and organisations—that bring it to life. Bringing farmers and nature organisations to the same table has proven to be a powerful tool.”

Vindum hopes the Danish experience can inspire other countries to create new forms of dialogue and build bridges between interests:

“When we work together, we can achieve both green goals—and maintain a strong agricultural sector.”

Flemming Kofoed shares that ambition:

“We’ve cultivated Denmark far more intensively than the European average, so we have a particular obligation to give something back. There’s growing awareness in agriculture of its societal role. The tripartite work is the beginning of something big. We’re underway, and the finer details will come later. We’re paving the road as we drive. And there’s reason to be optimistic—even for a biologist like me.”

FACT BOX

> What is the Green Tripartite?

The Green Tripartite is a Danish cooperation model between the government, labour market stakeholders, civil society, and knowledge institutions aimed at supporting the green transition in agriculture.

National Tripartite: Includes the Danish government, the Danish Agriculture & Food Council, the Danish Society for Nature Conservation (DN), the food workers’ union NNF, Danish Metal, the Confederation of Danish Industry, Local Government Denmark (KL), and the climate think tank Concito.

Local Tripartite Groups: 23 local partnerships anchored in municipalities, consisting of representatives from local governments, farmers' organisations, environmental NGOs and the Danish Nature Agency. They develop local land-use plans and help implement national political agreements.

> Biomass, land use and moving beyond fossil fuels

Europe faces a major challenge: to develop bio-based alternatives to fossil fuels and materials—without compromising food production or nature.

Biomass from grass, lowland soils and wetlands could play a key role. By converting wetland areas to grasslands and harvesting them for feed, biogas or green chemicals, it’s possible to store CO₂, enhance biodiversity and create new green products. But this requires technological innovation, land-use planning and local agreements.