Pawan Kumar Mishra from Mendel University in Brno has become a member of the Strategic Working Group on Bioeconomy within the Standing Committee on Agricultural Research (SCAR) of the European Commission. Through this appointment, the Czech Republic gains a direct voice in shaping European bioeconomy policy.

What is SCAR?

The Standing Committee on Agricultural Research (SCAR) was established within the European Commission in the 1970s. It is a so-called comitology body—an institutional platform that gives EU Member States a real influence on how European laws and policies are implemented in practice.

The committee focuses on agriculture, fisheries, food production, forestry, and related areas, with a strong emphasis on research and innovation. Its main role is to provide strategic recommendations that help shape the European Research Area and support the preparation of partnerships within the Horizon Europe programme.

What is the working group currently working on?

The working group collects data, organises thematic workshops, and publishes policy recommendations. In May 2025, for example, it contributed to the preparation of the upcoming EU Bioeconomy Strategy.

In its fourth mandate (2025 onwards), the SCAR Bioeconomy working group focuses on the following areas:

• Circular and bio-based value chains – transforming them into interconnected networks operating across sectors.
• Ecosystem boundaries and biomass supply – aligning growing biomass demand with disrupted supply chains and natural limits.
• The consumer side of the bioeconomy – improving understanding of people’s preferences and engaging them in the development of bio-based solutions.