What is the bioeconomy? 31
implications for changes between different types of land use such as forestry
and agriculture on other aspects such as climate change (Ollikainen, 2014).
Additionally, while considerations concerning the use and availability of bioresources are prominent, the relation between the use of bio- resources and
the use of other resources and products (such as water, fertilisers and pesticides) is rarely considered (Staffas et al., 2013).
Indeed, similar to the bio- technology vision, the bio- resource vision also
highlights the role of research and innovation activities as an important driver
for value creation. However, while the former takes a narrower point of
departure in bio- technology research, the latter emphasises the importance of
research in multiple fields, which are in different ways related to biological
materials. Consequently, research and innovation efforts often involve collaboration between actors with dissimilar competences, and the importance of
research on issues such as consumer preferences is also stressed (Levidow et
al., 2013). Innovation is also understood to require collaboration across
sectors, e.g. that firms from the forestry industry engage closely with
downstream actors (Kleinschmit et al., 2014). According to McCormick and
Kautto (2013), the importance of cross- sectoral collaborations for bioeconomy innovation is also frequently underlined in bioeconomy policies. Thus,
in summary, the drivers of innovation underlying value creation in the bioresource vision are less linear than in the bio- technology vision, as crosssectoral collaborations and interaction with customers are emphasised.
In terms of spatial focus, the bio- resource vision emphasises the significant
potential for stimulating development in rural settings. It is argued that plants
producing new bio- products will positively influence employment in rural
locations and will most likely be less footloose than other forms of economic
activities due to the importance of natural resources as key location factors
(Low & Isserman, 2009). Thus, the bio- resource bioeconomy opens up for a
revived rural development driven by diversification into higher value- added
products (Horlings & Marsden, 2014). Still, while localised competencies
related to cultivating and processing of the biological material are central to
this development, this will in most cases need to be complemented with
externally located knowledge (Albert, 2007).
2.4.3 The bio- ecology vision
The aims and objectives of the bio- ecology vision are primarily concerned with
sustainability. While economic growth and employment creation is a main
concern in the bio- technology and bio- resource visions, these aspects are
clearly secondary to sustainability concerns in the bio- ecology vision
(Levidow et al., 2013). Reflecting the focus on and concern for sustainability,
the literature on the bioeconomy also contains tensions and critical voices to
the focus on economic growth and commercialisation in the bio- technology
and in the bio- resource visions. In the literature on health there are several
contributions that criticise the commercialisation of bio- resources in areas
implications for changes between different types of land use such as forestry
and agriculture on other aspects such as climate change (Ollikainen, 2014).
Additionally, while considerations concerning the use and availability of bioresources are prominent, the relation between the use of bio- resources and
the use of other resources and products (such as water, fertilisers and pesticides) is rarely considered (Staffas et al., 2013).
Indeed, similar to the bio- technology vision, the bio- resource vision also
highlights the role of research and innovation activities as an important driver
for value creation. However, while the former takes a narrower point of
departure in bio- technology research, the latter emphasises the importance of
research in multiple fields, which are in different ways related to biological
materials. Consequently, research and innovation efforts often involve collaboration between actors with dissimilar competences, and the importance of
research on issues such as consumer preferences is also stressed (Levidow et
al., 2013). Innovation is also understood to require collaboration across
sectors, e.g. that firms from the forestry industry engage closely with
downstream actors (Kleinschmit et al., 2014). According to McCormick and
Kautto (2013), the importance of cross- sectoral collaborations for bioeconomy innovation is also frequently underlined in bioeconomy policies. Thus,
in summary, the drivers of innovation underlying value creation in the bioresource vision are less linear than in the bio- technology vision, as crosssectoral collaborations and interaction with customers are emphasised.
In terms of spatial focus, the bio- resource vision emphasises the significant
potential for stimulating development in rural settings. It is argued that plants
producing new bio- products will positively influence employment in rural
locations and will most likely be less footloose than other forms of economic
activities due to the importance of natural resources as key location factors
(Low & Isserman, 2009). Thus, the bio- resource bioeconomy opens up for a
revived rural development driven by diversification into higher value- added
products (Horlings & Marsden, 2014). Still, while localised competencies
related to cultivating and processing of the biological material are central to
this development, this will in most cases need to be complemented with
externally located knowledge (Albert, 2007).
2.4.3 The bio- ecology vision
The aims and objectives of the bio- ecology vision are primarily concerned with
sustainability. While economic growth and employment creation is a main
concern in the bio- technology and bio- resource visions, these aspects are
clearly secondary to sustainability concerns in the bio- ecology vision
(Levidow et al., 2013). Reflecting the focus on and concern for sustainability,
the literature on the bioeconomy also contains tensions and critical voices to
the focus on economic growth and commercialisation in the bio- technology
and in the bio- resource visions. In the literature on health there are several
contributions that criticise the commercialisation of bio- resources in areas