248 L. Scordato et al.
In addition, we see that perspectives on a circular production mode are
represented by new actors from the waste management and recycling industry. This is linked to how the idea of waste has been transformed from a
disposable pollutant to an important raw material in manufacturing and
energy production. Concepts such as recycling and re- use are increasingly
being redefined in terms of waste prevention, future material use, and
opportunities for the circular economy. The point is illustrated by an industry association:
It is important from a resource and climate perspective that the food production and waste from society is reintegrated in the life cycle through
the reutilisation of bio- manure from biogas production in agriculture and
the production of new food. The EU’s vision on a circular economy and
our own bioeconomy strategy will be important drivers.
(Industry Association)
This last statement suggests that environmental sustainability may increasingly
become integrated into new business models in the sector. However, the
empirical material at hand is too limited to make any general conclusions on
this aspect.
12.6 Conclusions and reflections
The aim of this chapter has been to improve our understanding of the politics
of socio- technical transitions. The study has been based on an analysis of the
different visions and contending rationales of different actors shaping the
policy discourse on the bioeconomy. The analysis has been accomplished by
applying three visions on the bioeconomy to analyse the content of a recent
public inquiry process that sought to inform the direction of a national policy
strategy for the bioeconomy in Norway. Although the findings have revealed
a substantial diversity in visions and interpretations of the bioeconomy, they
also show that the policy positions advocated by the stakeholders, to a large
extent, reflect their roles and positions within the dominant regimes of the
wider national economy.
Among the three bioeconomy visions, the bio- resource vision dominates
the discourse. This finding reflects the traditionally important role of natural
resource industries in the Norwegian economy and it is, hence, not very surprising that these sectors’ positions on the bioeconomy are central in the
material analysed. Still, this may serve as an illustration of how power structures are manifested in the existing socio- technical regime of the resourcedriven Norwegian economy, and how these actors actively try to position
themselves within the emerging bioeconomy.
It is primarily industry actors and public authorities that promote this
vision. Overall, there seems to be a consensus among this group of actors
regarding what needs to be prioritised and included in a national bioeconomy
In addition, we see that perspectives on a circular production mode are
represented by new actors from the waste management and recycling industry. This is linked to how the idea of waste has been transformed from a
disposable pollutant to an important raw material in manufacturing and
energy production. Concepts such as recycling and re- use are increasingly
being redefined in terms of waste prevention, future material use, and
opportunities for the circular economy. The point is illustrated by an industry association:
It is important from a resource and climate perspective that the food production and waste from society is reintegrated in the life cycle through
the reutilisation of bio- manure from biogas production in agriculture and
the production of new food. The EU’s vision on a circular economy and
our own bioeconomy strategy will be important drivers.
(Industry Association)
This last statement suggests that environmental sustainability may increasingly
become integrated into new business models in the sector. However, the
empirical material at hand is too limited to make any general conclusions on
this aspect.
12.6 Conclusions and reflections
The aim of this chapter has been to improve our understanding of the politics
of socio- technical transitions. The study has been based on an analysis of the
different visions and contending rationales of different actors shaping the
policy discourse on the bioeconomy. The analysis has been accomplished by
applying three visions on the bioeconomy to analyse the content of a recent
public inquiry process that sought to inform the direction of a national policy
strategy for the bioeconomy in Norway. Although the findings have revealed
a substantial diversity in visions and interpretations of the bioeconomy, they
also show that the policy positions advocated by the stakeholders, to a large
extent, reflect their roles and positions within the dominant regimes of the
wider national economy.
Among the three bioeconomy visions, the bio- resource vision dominates
the discourse. This finding reflects the traditionally important role of natural
resource industries in the Norwegian economy and it is, hence, not very surprising that these sectors’ positions on the bioeconomy are central in the
material analysed. Still, this may serve as an illustration of how power structures are manifested in the existing socio- technical regime of the resourcedriven Norwegian economy, and how these actors actively try to position
themselves within the emerging bioeconomy.
It is primarily industry actors and public authorities that promote this
vision. Overall, there seems to be a consensus among this group of actors
regarding what needs to be prioritised and included in a national bioeconomy