IFIB 2025, International Forum on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioeconomy

FIB 2025 went to the royal city in Northern Italy: Torino. This International Forum on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioeconomy is organised annually by our partner, the Italian Circular Bioeconomy Cluster SPRING. From keynotes to innovations, from long-term strategies to concrete business cases, the presentations covered a wide range of bioeconomy subjects, as did the discussions.  

Several concerns were voiced in the keynote speeches, such as the competition Europe faces with other regions of the world or the fact that bio-based products will in most cases be more expensive than incumbent, fossil-based ones. Several speakers stressed the timelines required to build a new production facility and see it not only operational, but also profitable. One speaker even scared the audience by explaining a third valley of death for bioeconomy innovations, referring to the profitability challenge. From policy makers, speakers expected support in clear regulation to move the innovations into the market. This can include biomaterial mandates, combined financing by public and private funds, and faster and more transparent approval procedures.   

However, there were also many cases of exciting innovations:  

• IFF is establishing sugars as base molecules for a new range of intermediates, combining sugar-based enzymatic and chemical reactions to make bio-based products 
• Fibenol pointed to successful product development based on lignin aromatics and is planning a large production facility in Latvia.  
• i-Foria is pioneering cellulose recovery and recycling of personal hygiene products, such as diapers 
• SMAT, the water utilities company of Torino, is rethinking its waste water treatment facility, the largest in Italy, to a water resource recovery plant.  
• The United Soybean Board (US) helped develop a soy-based firefighting foam 

One crucial question covered was that of sustainable feedstocks for the bioeconomy. A dichotomy became clear between day one and day two of the conference. On the first day, we saw presentations on the use of woody biomass to produce sugars to power fermentation, the use of rice straw sugars to produce PLA, or the use of plant-based sugars as building blocks for new molecules – all material uses for biomass. The second day however, focused more on mobility and included a panel discussion on the role of biofuels in the ecological transition, with panellists forecasting a 4x increase in biofuels under current policies alone and suggesting that carbon-negative fuels will soon be available.  

Even the SALONE AUTO TORINO 2025, which opened on the second day of IFIB showed a similar dichotomy, showcasing electric vehicles next to combustion engine powered ones – all against the backdrop of the baroque royal palace.  

It was a pleasure to join IFIB 2025 – to meet old and new friends, reconnect with clusters across Europe and learn about the many innovations in circular bioeconomy.  

In 2026, IFIB will be held in Rome, from 01 – 02 October.  

Source

Clib Cluster, press release, 2025-10-01.

Supplier

Cluster Industrielle Biotechnologie e.V. (CLIB2021)
Fibenol
i-Foria
IFF: International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
SMAT Group
SPRING - Italian Circular Bioeconomy Cluster
United Soybean Board (USB)

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