BETTER urban bioeconomies The UN estimates that around 70% of the global population will be living in urban areas by 2050. These figures helped inspire the BETTER metaprogramme, launched in 2020. INRAE researchers and their collaborators are studying how to build bioeconomies within cities and between urban and rural areas, with the goal of making cities more sustainable. The metaprogramme seeks to help decision-makers account for socioeconomic, organisational, structural, and technological shifts so that cities can reduce waste production; improve waste recycling and recovery; and diminish the direct and indirect consumption of fossil fuels. Its goals include transitioning to zero net carbon emissions by 2050 contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals increasing resilience to unexpected events and crises The metaprogramme is striving to account for the needs and constraints of urban areas while simultaneously addressing the challenges that arise in neighbouring areas when cities 3. Transitioning towards low-carbon industries 03. Sophie Thoyer / UMR CCE-M/ Centre of Montpellier Pascal Sarni / UMR SPO / Centre of Montpellier