Perspectives on bioeconomy

Bell J., Paula L., Dodd T., Németh S., Nanou C., Mega V., Campos P.

This article outlines the current context and the development of the European Bioeconomy Strategy. It analyses the current situation, challenges and needs for EU action and concludes with the next steps that the European Commission will undertake to review and update the Bioeconomy Strategy. Bioeconomy offers great opportunities to realising a competitive, circular and sustainable economy with a sound industrial base that is less dependent on fossil carbon. A sustainable bioeconomy also contributes to climate change mitigation, with oceans, forests and soils being major carbon sinks and fostering negative CO2 emissions. The EU has invested significantly in research and innovation in this field and the European Commission is committed to lead on European bioeconomy strategy.

Bonny S.

A strong movement of opposition to GMOs developed in the late 1990s in many countries, especially in Europe, although these technologies were presented from the outset as highly promising and their advantages were often highlighted. How can this rejection be explained? The aim of this paper is to answer that question through the case of France, which is fairly representative in this respect of various European countries, even if the opposition movement is here particularly strong. One examines various factors, actors and processes that have led to such strong opposition to GMOs that at this stage their development in Europe has almost totally been halted. In the first part of the article we recall the results of several recent surveys, showing the level of acceptance or refusal of genetic engineering in several countries. We then examine important factors of rejection: the focus on potential risks of GMOs and the extensive publicity given to them, coupled with the inadequacy of answers to these diverse criticisms, and a drawing up of an unfavorable risk-benefit balance. Lastly, we point out that various fears and objections to the evolution of agriculture and to the functioning of society ( i.e. limited trust in institutions and firms) appear to be crystallized around GMOs.

de la Paz Silva-Borjas M., Barragán-Ocaña A., Juárez-Olascoaga B.G., Osuna C.M., Olguín M.P.

Bråten S., Wedum G., Nilsen T.

Giampietro M., Funtowicz S., Bukkens S.G.

Abstract In this paper, we show that the characteristics of complex adaptive systems support the original interpretation of the bioeconomy of Georgescu-Roegen: the current use of natural resources by industrialized societies is incompatible with the regeneration processes of ecological systems. Elaborating the concept of societal identity, using a biosemiotics reading of the social theory of Luhmann, we show that the current social identity is sustained by implausible sociotechnical imaginaries, including the European Union’s interpretation of the bioeconomy as a panacea for green growth. We argue that the current widespread perception of polycrisis is a sign that, on the tangible side of biosemiotic process, social practices urgently need change. On the notional side, however, society is (still) incapable of relinquishing the set of sociotechnical imaginaries grounded in the American and Cartesian dreams (the promethean ideology) firmly locked in its collective memory. This incongruity has produced information disorder in the sustainability discourse. We conclude that the EU endorsement of the concept of the circular (bio)economy as a strategy for perpetual economic growth decoupled from resource use represents a desperate attempt to maintain the status quo through the endorsement of an integrated set of noble lies.

Oguntuase O.J.

The bioeconomy refers to consumers’ preference for bio-based (bioeconomy) products over fossil-based products across several economic sectors. Bioeconomy products have been identified as a promising pathway for the transition from the traditional linear, fossil-based economic system to a resilient bio-based sustainable economy. While traditional African communities were bio-based, the adoption of advanced bioeconomy and the usage of sustainably refined bio-based (bioeconomy) products remain quite scant in Africa. The focus of this chapter is how to improve demand-side development and increase the share of bioeconomy products in consumer markets toward building more resilient and sustainable African communities and economies. The chapter employed a systematic literature review approach to achieve this and other objectives. Individual consumer behavior is crucial to sustainability transitions and transformations. Drawing from the problematic meta-theoretical perspective that (un)sustainable developments stem from the poor decisions made by individual consumers, the argument in this chapter is that consumers should not be passive recipients but active participants in the transition to a socially acceptable bio-based sustainable economy. In addition to highlighting the central role of consumers in the structural transition to a sustainable bioeconomy, the chapter identified the importance of individual psychological perspectives in influencing behavioral and attitude changes required to boost consumer confidence and market uptake. It further explored innovative and transformative approaches cutting across governance, entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, education, technology, and innovation management required for bioeconomy to favorably compete with the mature fossil industry and generate value in emerging markets of Africa. It concluded with a reasonable case to make customer-oriented approaches and strategies the centerpiece of public policies and entrepreneurial engagements in the bioeconomy in Africa.

Roy T., Lee J., Kawashima T., Monroe G., Chakrabarty P.

Abstract Basic science research, also called “curiosity-driven research,” is fundamental work done with no immediate economic goals but rather a focus on discovery for discovery's sake. However, basic science research is often needed to seed more applied, economically-oriented, research. Both basic and applied research efforts are important aspects of the “bioeconomy” defined here as the contributions to the overall economy from various biology-related fields spanning everything from museum-based natural history research to agricultural food and material production to healthcare. Here we propose that more collaborative efforts across federal granting agencies in a venture-capitalist-like “PO-driven model” can help drive applied innovation from collaborations facilitated by Program Officers (PO). Program Officers from NSF, DOE, DARPA, USDA, NASA, and other federal agencies should seek out parallel and complementary research ideas from grantees and provide funds to build teams of researchers who may otherwise be unaware of one another. Researchers working in different field may also be unaware that the different organisms they are studying independently may have evolved similar traits (i.e., convergent evolution) that POs may recognize and who can then facilitate novel research avenues connecting those independent researchers (we provide examples of some projects inspired by convergent evolution here). In this top-down approach to research funding the U.S. bioeconomy will be pouring fuel on the fire of scientific productivity in this country.

Vikanksha, Kumar A., Singh J.

Many industrial processes can lead to heavy metal contamination. As heavy metals are not biodegradable and do damage all biological systems and the subsoil, their existence in soil and water poses major issues. Rhamnolipids surfactants in specific and biologically outer surface chemicals generally were utilized effectively in the rehabilitation of environments polluted with heavy metal ions. This chapter emphasizes the possible uses for such tensioactive compounds in the bioremediation of environmental heavy metals, as well as the various methods.

Fischer L., Losacker S., Wydra S.

Facilitating the transformation of innovation systems is a vital endeavor within the global quest to diminish the detrimental environmental consequences of economic activities. Against this background, scholars and policymakers emphasize the potentials of a societal transition towards a ‘bioeconomy’. In this paper, we study the technological specialization of countries in biobased technologies relating to chemicals and pharmaceuticals, which are key constituents for a future bioeconomy. By identifying these technologies in patent and publication data, we analyse specialization and diversification processes for 15 countries from 1997 to 2019. We find that countries that already had a relative advantage in biobased technologies are more likely to develop new specializations in technologies that relate to the bioeconomy. Beyond that, countries' specialization in biobased technologies varies between basic research (scientific publications) and applied research (patents). Our study also shows that greater technological complexity tends to limit specialization in biobased publications, highlighting the need for targeted policy interventions supporting the bioeconomy.

Anekwe I.M., Akpasi S.O., Joel A.S., Isa Y.M.

The concept of sustainable development has become a significant concern for policymakers around the world. Biotechnology has the potential to make a substantial contribution to achieving sustainability goals. The primary research and development priorities in biotechnology are rapidly reaching their respective stages of maturity and may soon overlap. This is particularly true in food production, environmental protection, bioremediation, renewable resources, and bioenergy. The application of biotechnology in bioenergy synthesis has contributed to the availability of renewable energy sources. However, issues still need to be resolved at the technological and economic levels. In some cases, the environmental impact of biotechnological processes has been dramatically underestimated; in other cases, the actual result has not yet been able to meet expectations. In this chapter, we discuss the practical application of biotechnology in bioenergy production, its challenges, and prospects for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Although biotechnological approaches cannot currently compete with conventional technologies, they significantly promote sustainable bioenergy development and the actualization of SDGs.

Вострякова В.

У той час як науковці активно займаються концептуалізацією біоекономіки як окремої ланки сталого економічного розвитку, існує цілий ряд інших зацікавленим сторін, які є безпосередніми учасниками біоекономічної трансформації та реалізації розроблених біоекономічних стратегій на практиці, думку яких зазвичай не враховують при розробці стратегічних напрямів розвитку та формуванні сталих моделей біоекономіки. Метою статті є дослідження сприйняття концепції біоекономічної трансформації основними зацікавленими сторонами на мікрорівні для формування політики та стратегій на усіх рівнях прийняття рішень, розробки навчальних планів та дисциплін, проведення наукових досліджень. Використовуючи кількісні дані, отримані шляхом анкетного опитування у трьох цільових підгрупах (науковий та інноваційний сектор, бізнес та промисловість, урядові та неурядові організації), нами сформовано наближене уявлення про сприйняття біоекономічної трансформації з точки зору академічної, державної та підприємницької перспективи. Згідно з результатами, концепція біоекономіки, тісно пов’язана з круговим, або циркулярним використанням біомаси для різних цілей, екосистемними послугами та сталим управлінням земельними ресурсами. Біоекономіка має великий потенціал для розвитку бізнесу та інновацій, сприяє сталому економічному розвитку, надає переваги для розвитку сільських територій, допомагає пом'якшити зміни клімату, створює нові робочі місця, її потенціал для економічного та інноваційного зростання виглядає менш помітним. Серед респондентів існує тверде переконання, що громадськість недостатньо поінформована про біоекономіку та перспективи її розвитку в Україні. Найбільш перспективним сектором з точки зору біоекономічної трансформації вважається сільське господарство – у первинному секторі та біоенергетика – у переробному секторі України. Науково-інноваційний сектор та бізнес середовище демонструють вищу готовність до розвитку біоекономіки, ніж державний сектор, однак усі сфери є досить узгодженими своєму розумінні зон відповідальності. Основним негативним чинником залишається відсутність сприятливої державної політики та законодавчого забезпечення, адаптованого до регіональних потреб. Дослідження сприяє розширенню дискусії щодо необхідності впровадження концепції біоекономіки в Україні та заповнює наукову прогалину в сприйнятті біоекономічної трансформації різними зацікавленими сторонами на мікрорівні.

Rao R., Sahu C., Bauddh K.

The nexus between circular economy, bioeconomy, and biofuel has a huge potential in achieving sustainable development goals. Although the magnitude of the existing relationship has not received sufficient attention to date, its impact on the bio-circular economy has already been realized. In this connection, the present chapter intends to highlight the multisectoral implementation of bioeconomy while justifying its role in various spheres of economic sustainability. This study also deciphers the contribution of biofuels to the global economic sector and its importance in governance and bio-diplomacy. The work is expected to bridge the knowledge gap in addressing the issues of the bio-circular economy.

Oguntuase O.J., Adu O.B., Obayori O.S.

The bioeconomy seeks to efficiently transform biomaterials into value-added products to achieve circularity. A circular bioeconomy is a circular carbon economy based on bio-based resources. There is a dearth of information in the literature about how psychological factors affect public acceptance of the bioeconomy, especially in Africa, where the adoption of bioeconomy is scant. Addressing this gap, this study characterized bioeconomy as a low-carbon bio-based technological innovation to combat climate change and developed the Bioeconomy Technology Acceptance Model (BTAM) to explain the effects of individual-level factors on public acceptance of bioeconomy and investigated it in a survey (N = 465) using questionnaires that were carried out in Lagos, Nigeria, in 2022. The respondents were chosen by proportional stratified random sampling, and descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and structural equation modeling were used to analyze the data obtained. The strong influence of perceived usefulness from bioeconomy and intention to accept bioeconomy in BTAM suggests that the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) is suitable for predicting public acceptance of bioeconomy. Considering the strong influence of belief about climate change on the perceived usefulness of bioeconomy and intention to accept it in this study, it is imperative to promote climate change education among Africans to accelerate acceptance of bioeconomy on the continent. The identified psychological factors provide a reference for scholars, policymakers, and manufacturers to effectively develop individual-oriented intervention strategies and promotion schemes to enhance acceptance of bioeconomy in Africa in particular and other climes where there is not yet widespread acceptance of circular bioeconomy.

Woźniak-Gientka E., Tyczewska A.

According to the definition of OECD, bioeconomy refers to the set of economic activities relating to the innovation, development, production and use of biological products and processes. The aim of the bioeconomy is to provide more sustainable use of resources. In Europe, the concept of bioeconomy has become increasingly popular as many regions and nations have developed a national bioeconomy strategy or policies relevant to bioeconomy. However, it may not be enough to face challenges such as climate change, reduction of biodiversity, or ensuring food security. One of the solutions, especially in times of pandemic and Russia's war in Ukraine, is using new plant breeding techniques such as genome editing in agriculture. It requires radical changes in regulation and society's perception of plant breeding, especially in Europe. An important aspect is also involving the community in the bioeconomy, strengthening national and international collaboration, and providing educational tools for the public.

Losacker S., Heiden S., Liefner I., Lucas H.

Over the past two decades, a new research field dealing with “sustainability transitions” has emerged, analyzing the transformation of socio-technical systems towards more sustainable futures. While there is consensus on the crucial role of the bioeconomy in sustainability transitions research, we argue that the true potential of many bioeconomy innovations is not yet sufficiently recognized and assessed. Much of the literature on the bioeconomy focuses on the bio-based substitution of environmentally harmful goods, neglecting the disruptive potential of innovative biotechnologies. In this commentary, we present some examples on advanced biotechnology and we invite sustainability transitions scholars to rethink their notion of bioeconomy innovations.

Harrahill K., Macken-Walsh Á., O'Neill E.

The potential of the bioeconomy to support a transition to a post-carbon society has resulted in the concept's growing presence in policy documents focusing on land-use and climate action. Questions remain regarding power dynamics regarding who can influence the development of the bioeconomy. While primary producers have been identified as important providers of biomass for securing bioeconomy development, previous studies have emphasised the marginal position they hold in bioeconomy social networks internationally. Taking the growing bioeconomy in Ireland as a case study, this paper utilises social network analysis to map the composition of the Irish bioeconomy social network, identifying actors and sectors that have acquired relatively central or peripheral positions within the network. A further area of importance within social network analysis is the identification of brokers who can facilitate the entry and involvement of marginalised groups. Alongside the creation of a sociogram visualising the Irish bioeconomy, the theories of Foucault, Haugaard and Clegg on power are utilised to enrich the analysis of Ireland's bioeconomy social network. The study finds that, aligned with other studies on bioeconomy social networks, government and academic bodies form the core of Ireland's bioeconomy. Furthermore, primary producers are largely marginalised within the Irish bioeconomy. Their exclusion could impact the forms of knowledge considered within the development of the bioeconomy and who will ultimately benefit from its development.

Trigkas M., Karagouni G.

While researchers of the area try hard to conceptualize the bioeconomy, it appears that it is harder for the variety of stakeholders to agree on the critical elements that form sustainable bioeconomy models. The aim of the present paper is to gain insight into major players’ understanding of the bioeconomy concept to form policies and strategies or direct education and research. Using data collected from academia and state stakeholders in Greece, this paper articulates perceptions regarding the concept of bioeconomy from an academic, technological, and economic point of view. According to the results, the bioeconomy concept seems to be related to applied life and economic sciences, and engineering and technology sciences. Its technological interpretation regards innovation, new product development, and technologies. Empirical findings indicate an almost catholic acceptance of bioeconomy as an economic activity, no matter the science field or the state position of the stakeholders. They also highlight a clear need for synergies and a coherent cross-sectoral and interdisciplinary approach to produce novel knowledge, skills, technology, and innovation. The research contributes to the existing debate on the buzzing concept of the bioeconomy and fills a scientific gap at the regional level of a typical Mediterranean economy, enriching the related literature.