Bioeconomy: Policy Options for Sustainable Development and Food Systems

Resilience through sustainable Bioeconomy

The Sustainable Development Goals need to be revisited in order to actually achieve them in an ambitious but realistic time horizon. In particular the goals of ending extreme poverty (SDG1) and hunger (SDG2) by 2030 have moved out of reach. Combining a sustainable income growth agenda with humanitarian action calls for investment in resilience. Achieving resilience requires attention to essentially three actions,

1. Bending the warming curve as fast as possible,
2. Adaptation to climate change with attention to people, infrastructures, food and health systems, and
3. Transformation of economic systems.

These three action areas for resilience are of course interconnected. In this article the focus is on the 3rd action, that is, transformation of the economic system, which is much talked about but often in only rather general terms.

So, what is the end game of economic systems transformation? It is the shift toward more circular bio-based economies, that is, the Bioeconomy. The Bioeconomy offers solutions to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, combat climate change, and improve resource efficiency, contributing to economic growth, innovation, and food security. Bioeconomy is not a sector of the economy but does to various extents transform sectors and thereby economies.

The global trend toward Bioeconomy

Are there any signs that such transformation actually happens? Yes, a surprisingly fast adoption of Bioeconomy strategies has happened in the last 10 years at a global scale (see the Map that covers developments 2020-2024). More than 60 countries have launched Bioeconomy strategies, and many of them are not just strategies in words, but are concrete and have a significant funding base. Furthermore, local BioeconomyBioeconomy strategies are being defined and implemented at province level.

Source: Dietz et. al, 2024. https://www.iacgb.net/GLOBAL

This trend – so far not sufficiently noticed by development policy and development oriented civil society organizations – is also embraced by emerging economies in Africa, Latin America and Asia. As many emerging economy countries have relatively large food and agriculture sectors, and also are confronted with food and nutrition security problems, the question arises, how Bioeconomy relates to food systems, and does it help or hinder sustainability in food systems?

Evolving Bioeconomy policy agendas

Noteworthy policy trends in recent years (2020–2024) are these: Nations increasingly recognize the Bioeconomy as a cornerstone of sustainability. Emerging economies, in particular, emphasize adapting technologies to local needs to address economic and social challenges. To mention more details in these trends (2),

• The Bioeconomy is increasingly seen as a key enabler and solution provider to global sustainability challenges across various sectors and dimensions of society.
• Developing and emerging economy countries are increasingly engaged and, through their Bioeconomy strategies, seek to adapt existing technologies (for example, biorefineries) to local conditions.
• International and multilateral cooperation is seen in many Bioeconomy strategies as a key building block. Consequently, multilateral organizations have intensified their engagement in, and for, Bioeconomy. Under India’s lead in 2023, the Group of Twenty (G20) drew attention to the Bioeconomy and, in 2024, Brazil put the Bioeconomy even more prominently on the G20 agenda. and The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) included Bioeconomy in its most recent science strategy.
• That Bioeconomy has been moving south is indicated by the most recent Global Bioeconomy Summit that was held in Nairobi, Kenya, in October 2024. For the first time it was not held in Germany but in Africa (1). 

Agendas of Bioeconomy strategies have changed. For instance, recent policies and strategies focus on enhancing synergies and minimizing trade-offs among economic, environmental, and social objectives while addressing the Paris climate change goals and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The governmental documents of the strategies converge on fundamental objectives to be achieved through Bioeconomy expansion, i.e. contributing to climate neutrality, food and nutrition security, improved health, economic growth and other objectives aligned with sustainable development.

In order to address potential regional biomass supply deficits and facilitate sustainable development, Bioeconomy policies promote advanced circularity models that emphasize resource optimization, recycling, use of waste and side streams and sustainable consumption, as well as an increase in biomass productivity (for example in agriculture, forestry, and the blue Bioeconomy). These initiatives are being driven by biotechnology, precision agriculture, and other innovative manufacturing technologies. Biosafety and biosecurity aspects play a rapidly growing role in global Bioeconomy policy frameworks.

Moreover, strategies emphasize the need for a (re-)skilled workforce in the emerging and innovative Bioeconomy sectors, including the development of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programs. Specific capacity-building programs are proposed to equip individuals with the necessary knowledge and skills for an effective contribution to the Bioeconomy. There is also a growing and changing science focus in Bioeconomy strategies, and that is adapted to the respective contexts. The role of new and traditional knowledge, science, and innovation as a driver of the Bioeconomy is extensively emphasized in new strategies.

Diversity in the global Bioeconomy

Logic and challenges of Bioeconomy differ in the Global South from the North. Many developed economies (“Global North”) have identified Bioeconomy as key for sustainability and environmental health, whereas most of the emerging economies (“Global South”) value Bioeconomy as key for providing economic growth and jobs, food, health, and environmental security. Developing the Bioeconomy should help the emerging regions avoid the pitfalls of embedding a fossil economy.

In the end, both Global North and South need to aspire for a sustainable Bioeconomy that is universal, an economy that relinquishes dependence on fossil fuels and on harmful policies and practices and many current forms of global trade behaviors. Looking at the Bioeconomy strategies around the world shows considerable diversity in objectives and priorities, driven by the diversity of ecologies, science capacities, and demand (3).

Advancements in agricultural biotechnology-driven productivity appear to play a more prominent role in the new strategies of China and the United States, while the strategies within the European Union (EU) place comparatively more emphasis on the development of circular economy models. The role of biodiversity is becoming prominent in the framing of a "socio-biodiversity Bioeconomy" concept in recent and ongoing policy developments, which emphasizes the protection of the Amazon and the sustainable use of biodiversity and its elements for the provision of economic and social support to local communities.

Job creation through value addition to primary produce and linking farmers to value chains and new markets, are key objectives in Bioeconomy strategies in Eastern Africa. Biodiversity and ecosystem services are emphasized in Bioeconomy strategies in the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region. Notably, Brazil has developed a new perspective with the "socio-biodiversity Bioeconomy" as part of the forest-based Bioeconomy and the protection of the Amazon and the provision of economic and social support to local communities.

A notable trend is the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into all areas of the Bioeconomy, with a particular focus on microbiology, enzymology, and synthetic biology leading to the emergence of innovative forms of biotechnology, bioengineering and biomanufacturing.

The way forward with investments and policies

Planetary health as a guiding principle of Bioeconomy, means health of human beings, animals and plants through a healthy environment (air, water, soil) which needs to be safeguarded or restored. Clean air, clean water, sustainable food supply, biodiversity, and a resilient climate have become challenged in our industrialized world through relying on fossil resources. We are now facing climate change, growing pressure on natural ecosystems, changed land-use patterns, agricultural intensification, and biodiversity loss mostly due to unsustainable anthropogenic activities. It is generally recognized that restoring ecosystem health and preventing and reversing global biodiversity loss are important for socio-economic development and the welfare of humanity.

A food system enhancing Bioeconomy contributes to food and nutrition security.Bioeconomy as well as food are systems concepts.Sufficient and high-quality food continues to be an overriding objective in Bioeconomy strategies of emerging economies. Investment in the food oriented Bioeconomy needs to contribute to overcome the problem that almost 50% of the world’s population do not have access to or cannot afford a healthy diet. Food supplies are disrupted by heatwaves, floods, droughts and global conflicts.

Indigenous communities and traditional knowhow need to be recognized and included. Traditional knowledge has not been a significant focus of the Bioeconomy, but it offers a wealth of opportunity for development according to Bioeconomy principles. It is an inclusive and sustainable model for Indigenous People, communities and smallholder farmers to create livelihoods not at odds with climate change challenges.

Young people need to be heard. Education is a key factor for economic wealth and well-being. Training, education and communication are key requirements for an inclusive Bioeconomy. Environmental consciousness is widely adopted among youth, as is the the use of technology transfer. Bioeconomy concepts and activities should be included at all stages of education to enhance youth participation and drive future change.

Policy support and investment for inclusive regional and local initiatives to grow and link with the global Bioeconomy. Bottom-up initiatives are shaping local Bioeconomy innovations and are transforming rural and industrialised regions globally. The Bioeconomy generates employment in rural areas by linking farmers to new markets, enabling local biomanufacturing, and adding value to bio-based products, while also providing solutions to strengthen the resilience of local and regional food supplies.

For planetary and local resilience, the Bioeconomy must become an integral part of sustainable development frameworks and economic strategies worldwide. It is crucial that the Bioeconomy is part of the climate change, biodiversity and food systems agendas as outlined by the United Nations Summits and IPCC reports. A Global Bioeconomy Partnership should be established bringing different existing initiatives together.

Standards and regulations to enable market access for Bioeconomy innovations need to be developed. Sustainability metrics can serve as a measurable tool to monitor how businesses in the Bioeconomy and the supply chains contribute to reducing carbon emissions, ensuring water security (supply and quality), soil security (reducing soil degradation), promoting regeneration, and preserving healthy terrestrial and marine ecosystems and biodiversity at scale while boosting the Bioeconomy.

Joachim von Braun is Professor (em.) at the Center for Development Research, University of Bonn, Vice President of Welthungerhilfe and a member of the International Advisory Council on Global Bioeconomy (IACGB) as well as of the High-Level Advisory Board of the UN-Food Systems Summit.

References:

(1) One Planet – Sustainable Bioeconomy solutions for global challenges. Communique of IACGB, Global Bioeconomy Summit 2024, Nairobi  https://gbs2024.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IACGB-Communique-24October2024.pdf

(2) Bioeconomy globalization: Recent trends and drivers of national programs and policies. 2024. Thomas Dietz, et. al. A report by the International Advisory Council on Global Bioeconomy (IACGB) April 2024 https://www.iacgb.net/lw_resource/datapool/systemfiles/elements/files/52440fb0-f35d-11ee-9ed1-dead53a91d31/current/document/Global_Bioeconomy_-_April_2024_IACGB.pdf

(3) von Braun, J., Exogenous and endogenous drivers of bioeconomy and science diplomacy. EFB Bioeconomy Journal. Volume 2, November 2022, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667041022000076