How to mainstream sustainability and circularity into the bioeconomy?: A compendium of bioeconomy good practices and policies

The International Advisory Council on Global Bioeconomy has urged to strengthen good practices and policies to advance the global bioeconomy. The Compendium outlines 250 sources of good practices and policies, covering the entire continuum of economic sectors that have a stake in biological knowledge and resources. The implementation of bioeconomy strategies presents greater challenges than activities that are focused on a single sector, and a context-specific approach is needed to make evidence-based decisions on policies and investments for the bioeconomy.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 132 pages
Publication date: 30 March 2022
Publisher: Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

The International Advisory Council on Global Bioeconomy has issued a communiqué in 2020, calling for the reinforcement of effective practices and policies to propel the global bioeconomy forward. This transformative shift from a fossil-fueled economy to a bioeconomy occurs at three interconnected levels: technological, organizational, and social. Particularly, agri-food systems hold immense importance in achieving a transition towards sustainable and circular production and consumption patterns, as they constitute the largest segment of the bioeconomy in terms of economic value added and offer significant potential for discovery and innovation. This Compendium presents a comprehensive compilation of 250 sources of good practices and policies that span across the diverse economic sectors involved in harnessing biological knowledge and resources. By highlighting the wide range of aspects encompassed by the bioeconomy concept, the Compendium underscores the complexity and multifaceted nature of this multisectoral endeavor. As a process that involves potential synergies and trade-offs among various sustainability objectives, implementing bioeconomy strategies poses greater challenges than those focused solely on individual sectors. Furthermore, the report illustrates how good practices and policies play a crucial role in translating bioeconomy strategies into coordinated actions that align with local priorities and sustainability goals, while also addressing global challenges. However, a significant knowledge gap emerges from the review: Assessments often fail to provide clear evidence indicating whether practices and policies have demonstrated sufficient impact to be deemed as models that contribute to the sustainability objectives of the bioeconomy. To address this, Chapter 5 presents a context-specific approach, which offers guidance to countries in making evidence-based decisions regarding policies and investments in the bioeconomy. This approach facilitates the identification of tailored solutions that are tailored to the specific circumstances and needs of individual countries, enabling them to navigate the complexities of this evolving field and make informed choices that promote sustainability and economic growth.

Dimension: 297 x 210 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789251347263