Forest Bioconomy 2025 – New Opportunities

Note: Dates changed to: 21-22 October 2025, Rotorua, New Zealand

New Industry Conference: Forestry sector set for biomanufacturing boost – A recent report from Europe on the opportunities for natural resources including wood fibre has been identified by Scion Research leader Florian Graichen as a potential industry step change for New Zealand forest owners. A recent post by Mr Graichen highlighted key factors including:

Biomanufacturing: Europe’s Industrial Edge in a Global Race — What about New Zealand? (A very insightful paper from EuropaBio – the European Association for Bioindustries) – Biomanufacturing, the application of biotechnology at an industrial scale to produce novel or substitute products, is a fast-growing and integral part of the EU’s economy. In 2018, it contributed EUR 34.5 billion to the overall GDP.

Sustainable Innovation Across Industries: Industries face challenges in reducing their environmental footprint while staying competitive. Biomanufacturing is expanding its impact by providing new sustainable technologies supported by more resilient supply chains. A global race is underway to produce innovative and scalable products that will transform the health, chemical, and food industries, positioning Europe on an industrial edge.

Biotech & Biomanufacturing – opportunity for New Zealand?: As New Zealand’s leading institute for industrial biotechnology, advanced manufacturing and forestry, Scion is pioneering multiple bioproduct and biomanufacturing solutions with industry partners. It is critical for New Zealand’s aspirations around transitioning to a productive, prosperous and resilient low-carbon economy, supporting high value jobs and exports. Advances in biomanufacturing and biotechnology are catalysts for creating a prosperous future.

“Several key technologies are in development to use forest resources for higher value export products both locally and overseas”, says conference director, John Stulen. “Local entrepreneurs are already developing new products from sustainable resources.”

Case studies include:

AgriSea is creating the world’s first commercial seaweed nanocellulose facility. Nanocellulose is a high value material with tensile strength stronger than steel, and a co-efficient of expansion less than glass, making it a very high performance material in many applications.
Port Blakely New Zealand Essential Oils (PBNZEO), is a global leader in sustainable essential oil production, is among the first essential oil producers worldwide.
NZ Bio Forestry is a multi-national company that focuses on transforming plantation forestry biomass into bio-fuels, bio-chemicals and innovative materials.

“To bring our industry innovators together we are pleased to announce our new conference: Forest Bioeconomy Innovations, coming to Rotorua on 20-21 May during TechWeek in New Zealand.

“We are bringing international startup leaders together with forest and wood technology innovators to supercharge new processes to complement and eventually replace pulp and paper mills to a large degree,” says Stulen.

“We are also working closely with officials and the Minister at MPI/Te Uru Rakau, Scion’s bioeconomy experts and key industry leaders to showcase sustainable and potential bioeconomy export products from New Zealand’s vast forest resources.”

In May 2025 leaders in business innovation and primary industries will gather at this new circular economy event – our NEW Forest Bioeconomy Conference.

For further details, contact John Stulen, Innovatek Ltd, Email: john.stulen@innovatek.co.nz Mob: 027 275 8011