NYMPHE Societal Assessment Webinar - key insights on the future of bioremediation in Europe

Bioremediation is increasingly recognised as one of the most promising and sustainable ways to clean up pollution. But successful implementation requires more than scientific progress - it depends on societal trust, regulatory clarity and ethical considerations.

Is Europe ready to fully harness the power of bioremediation?

This was the central question of the NYMPHE Societal Assessment Webinar. Exploring Stakeholders Perspectives on bioremediation, held on 10 November.

The event brought together experts in biotechnology, regulation, synthetic microbiology, electrochemistry and industrial-scale remediation to explore the scientific, societal and policy dimensions shaping the future of bioremediation.

The result was a rich, multidimensional discussion on what must happen for these technologies to take root at scale.

Speakers who shaped this important conversation

• Hana Horváthová (CENVIS)

  Environmental biotechnologist specialising in bioremediation and phytoremediation; leader of Work Package 4 in NYMPHE.

  
  

• Patrick Rüdelsheim (Perseus BVBA)

  Expert in biosafety and biotechnology regulation, with long-standing involvement in international biosafety associations; lecturer at the University of Antwerp.

  
  

• Victor de Lorenzo (CSIC)

  A leading figure in environmental synthetic biology, developing genetic tools to enhance the degradative capacities of microorganisms.

  
  

• Abraham Esteve Núñez (University of Alcalá / METfilter)

  Pioneer in electromicrobiology and creator of the METland® technology used in full-scale bioremediation systems.

  
  

What stood out during the discussion?

🔹 The line between natural and ‘enhanced’ organisms is increasingly blurredSpeakers highlighted that the real question is not how technologies are developed, but how and where they are applied in practice.

🔹 Regulation is the greatest bottleneck for innovationDespite mature technologies and successful full-scale deployments, a lack of flexible, risk-based regulatory pathways continues to slow progress.

🔹 Public acceptance depends on the narrativeBioremediation must be framed not as an experiment but as an act of care, restoration, and environmental responsibility. Transparency about risks is essential, but so is relatable, positive communication.

🔹 The technology is ready — but the market and policy frameworks are notAdvanced biotechnology and proven remediation systems exist, yet progress remains constrained by regulatory misalignment and limited market readiness.

What’s next?

Speakers emphasised the need for:

1. Clearer regulatory pathways

2. Well-documented success stories

3. Greater investment in scaling up

4. Collective efforts to build societal trust

Bioremediation is not an emerging idea - it is an essential tool for addressing pollution in Europe.

Thank you!

A warm thank you to all the speakers for their valuable contributions, to all attendees for joining the conversation, and to the organisers for bringing this important event to life.