EU Bioeconomy Ambassador Kati Merruntaus: “Bioeconomy has enormous potential – young people’s voices must be heard”

This summer, Finnish forest sciences student Kati Merruntaus was selected as one of 15 young Europeans to join the EU Bioeconomy Youth Ambassador programme. As the only representative from Finland—and the first from the forestry sector—she brings a unique perspective shaped by her upbringing on a grain and forest farm in Central Finland and her academic background in agriculture and forestry.

Over the next two years, Kati Merruntaus and her fellow ambassadors will work to raise awareness of  bioeconomy across Europe, highlighting the role of forests, agriculture, and renewable resources in building a sustainable future. Their shared mission is to amplify youth perspectives and make European bioeconomy more visible, relatable, and actionable.

“I’ve actually been part of bioeconomy my whole life, even though I only learned the term during my studies,” Merruntaus says with a smile. “When I saw the call for applications, I decided to give it a try—and I got in.”

Bringing bioeconomy closer to citizens

The EU Bioeconomy Youth Ambassador programme was launched in 2021 by the European Commission as part of its broader Bioeconomy Strategy, which aims to transition Europe toward a circular economy based on renewable biological resources. The strategy supports goals such as food security, sustainable resource management, climate mitigation, and economic competitiveness.

To help bring these ambitions closer to citizens, especially younger generations, the Ambassador programme engages young leaders from diverse disciplines, including marine science, engineering, law, and social sciences.

Merruntaus’s cohort is the second to participate in the programme. She notes that Finland was not represented in the first round either. However, given Finland’s reputation as a model for the EU bioeconomy, she sees her role as an opportunity to highlight the country’s expertise and resources.

Building skills and awareness across Europe

The selection process for the EU Bioeconomy Youth Ambassador Programme was highly competitive, attracting around 300 applicants. The final group reflects a broad mix of academic disciplines and professional backgrounds.

Throughout her studies, Kati Merruntaus has gained extensive hands-on experience in the field. Most recently, she worked as a research assistant at the University of Eastern Finland, measuring greenhouse gases and leaf areas in bogs at the Hyytiälä Forest Station in Juupajoki, southern Finland—an internationally recognized site for long-term ecological research and forest monitoring.

“It was very concrete fieldwork in wetlands,” Merruntaus recalls of her research experience. “My childhood home was a grain and forest farm, so agriculture and forestry have always been part of my everyday life.”

Merruntaus holds degrees in agrology and forestry science (B.Sc.) and is currently completing her master’s in forest sciences at the University of Eastern Finland.

The goal is to raise awareness

While the Ambassador role is still evolving, Merruntaus sees it as a platform to engage young people and influence future policy.

“The plans for the ongoing two-year term are still being finalised, but I want to stay involved in what is happening in bioeconomy and be ready to speak and participate in various events. The voice of young people must also be heard at the EU level.”

Merruntaus believes that many of her generation are unaware of the scope and significance of bioeconomy, and that greater awareness could attract new talent to sectors like forestry and agriculture.

“I believe that very few people my age really know how extensive and important bioeconomy is for Finland and the entire planet. It can offer solutions to problems such as (the) fossil fuel economy and huge new opportunities for promoting circular economy.”

“If awareness of the diversity of bioeconomy were increased, many more young people could be attracted to the forestry and agriculture sectors than just those with a family background,” Merruntaus says.

Bringing youth and the future to the table

The EU Bioeconomy Ambassador programme gives young Europeans the chance to contribute to EU bioeconomy strategies and participate in international cooperation.

“We are asked for our opinions and involved in various projects. It’s important to bring young people’s perspective on the future to the table – after all, we will be living with the consequences of these decisions for decades.”

Looking ahead, Merruntaus hopes to combine research and practical agriculture in her career. She is particularly interested in climate-related topics such as peatland use and carbon sequestration in forests.

“I would like to be involved in producing information that can be used in decision-making and practical solutions.”

She also dreams of developing her own farm using innovative methods like carbon farming, wetland cultivation, and continuous-cover forest management—approaches that integrate ecological and economic sustainability. [Some of this is repeated in the following quote.]

“It would be great to be able to combine the traditional farm environment with new sustainable solutions—for example, carbon farming, wetland farming, or continuous-cover forest cultivation. They combine both ecological and economic perspectives.”

Although she’s open to working in public administration, Merruntaus emphasises her desire to stay rooted in Finland.

“Domestic issues and local influence are close to my heart. Finland has a wealth of expertise and opportunities, and I would like to be involved in building the bioeconomy of the future here in my home country.”