Downscaling EU bioeconomy policy for national implementation

• The analysis reveals a significant misalignment between EU bioeconomy ambition and the capacity of primary industries to meet sustainability targets. • The failure to adequately engage farmers and citizens in the policy-making process suggests that bioeconomy policy is largely driven by elite interests, with little consideration for the needs and capacities of industries such as primary sector. • Findings suggest that policy adaptation must account for local contexts to effectively support sustainable bioeconomy development in resource-dependent sectors. • The lack of specific measures to support the primary sector in achieving bioeconomy goals in EU and national bioeconomy policy demonstrates a fundamental issue in policy transposition. • In both EU and national contexts, although sustainability is often referred to, it is done so in a vague sense, with no definition of what is actually meant by the term in respect to bioeconomy development, nor how it is to be implemented. This paper examines how EU bioeconomy strategies are adapted and implemented at the national level, using Ireland as a case study. Through the application of a Narrative Policy Framework, this study analyses how national bioeconomy policy aligns with EU objectives and how such policy addresses institutional capacity, policy coherence, and sustainable development. The findings reveal a significant misalignment between the EU's ambitious bioeconomy targets and the realities of implementation at the national level. It highlights how primary industries are often underrepresented in policy-making processes, yet are expected to meet high innovation standards without evidence of adequate support. The paper highlights gaps in governance mechanisms, partnership models, and sustainability approaches, particularly in addressing the socio-economic dimensions of sustainability. These gaps risk perpetuating existing inequalities and failing to meet sustainability targets. The research provides a critical analysis of the disconnect between EU bioeconomy policy aspirations and national-level implementation, offering insights into the structural barriers that hinder effective policy transposition. The study calls for more tailored policy support, clearer governance frameworks, and deeper engagement with local stakeholders to ensure the bioeconomy transition is both inclusive and sustainable. Future research is recommended to explore cross-national comparisons to improve the adaptability and implementation of bioeconomy policies across the EU.