What is the bioeconomy? 33
while the importance of external linkages is stressed in the bio- resource vision,
the bio- ecology vision calls for development of locally embedded economies,
i.e. “place- based agri- ecological systems” (Marsden, 2012, p. 140), as a central
part of the efforts to ensure a sustainable bioeconomy.
2.5 Findings and concluding remarks
Based on a review of the research literature, this chapter has documented the
scope, origins and reach of the notion of the bioeconomy. Moreover, the
chapter has sought to deepen our understanding of the notion of the bioeconomy through the identification of three different visions of the bioeconomy. In sum, the chapter has sought to map the diverse grounds and
perspectives in this field.
While the transition to the bioeconomy is often argued to play a key role
in targeting grand challenges such as climate change, food security, health,
industrial restructuring and energy security, the chapter has shown that the
bioeconomy constitutes a young research field, although it is likely that the
research covered in this analysis probably has been involved in related
domains before, or in similar research under different headings, such as biotechnology. As opposed to former research on biotechnology as such, the
more recent research on the bioeconomy seems to refer to a broader concept
that encompasses several sectors spanning from health and the chemical industry, to agriculture, forestry and bioenergy. The chapter has shown how a
range of different disciplines are involved in the knowledge production
underpinning the emergence of the bioeconomy. This breadth reflects the
generic characteristic and nature of the notion of the bioeconomy. However,
among the variety of disciplines researching the bioeconomy, natural and
engineering sciences take up the most central role.
With this in mind, it is perhaps not surprising that the literature review
identified three visions of the bioeconomy, of which at least the first two
appear to be significantly influenced by an engineering and natural sciences
perspective. The bio- technology vision emphasises the importance of biotechnology research and the application and commercialisation of biotechnology in different sectors of the economy. The bio- resource vision
focuses on processing and upgrading of biological raw materials, as well as on
the establishment of new value chains. Finally, the bio- ecology vision highlights sustainability and ecological processes that optimise the use of energy
and nutrients, promote biodiversity and avoid monocultures and soil
degradation.
The perception of a bioeconomy also contains different objectives in terms
of a focus on reducing waste- streams of bio- resources on the one hand, and
developing new products and economic value chains based on existing wastestreams from bio- resources on the other. To the degree that there emerge
new economic value chains surrounding biowaste, this may constitute a disincentive to reduce the amount of biowaste in the first place. These two
while the importance of external linkages is stressed in the bio- resource vision,
the bio- ecology vision calls for development of locally embedded economies,
i.e. “place- based agri- ecological systems” (Marsden, 2012, p. 140), as a central
part of the efforts to ensure a sustainable bioeconomy.
2.5 Findings and concluding remarks
Based on a review of the research literature, this chapter has documented the
scope, origins and reach of the notion of the bioeconomy. Moreover, the
chapter has sought to deepen our understanding of the notion of the bioeconomy through the identification of three different visions of the bioeconomy. In sum, the chapter has sought to map the diverse grounds and
perspectives in this field.
While the transition to the bioeconomy is often argued to play a key role
in targeting grand challenges such as climate change, food security, health,
industrial restructuring and energy security, the chapter has shown that the
bioeconomy constitutes a young research field, although it is likely that the
research covered in this analysis probably has been involved in related
domains before, or in similar research under different headings, such as biotechnology. As opposed to former research on biotechnology as such, the
more recent research on the bioeconomy seems to refer to a broader concept
that encompasses several sectors spanning from health and the chemical industry, to agriculture, forestry and bioenergy. The chapter has shown how a
range of different disciplines are involved in the knowledge production
underpinning the emergence of the bioeconomy. This breadth reflects the
generic characteristic and nature of the notion of the bioeconomy. However,
among the variety of disciplines researching the bioeconomy, natural and
engineering sciences take up the most central role.
With this in mind, it is perhaps not surprising that the literature review
identified three visions of the bioeconomy, of which at least the first two
appear to be significantly influenced by an engineering and natural sciences
perspective. The bio- technology vision emphasises the importance of biotechnology research and the application and commercialisation of biotechnology in different sectors of the economy. The bio- resource vision
focuses on processing and upgrading of biological raw materials, as well as on
the establishment of new value chains. Finally, the bio- ecology vision highlights sustainability and ecological processes that optimise the use of energy
and nutrients, promote biodiversity and avoid monocultures and soil
degradation.
The perception of a bioeconomy also contains different objectives in terms
of a focus on reducing waste- streams of bio- resources on the one hand, and
developing new products and economic value chains based on existing wastestreams from bio- resources on the other. To the degree that there emerge
new economic value chains surrounding biowaste, this may constitute a disincentive to reduce the amount of biowaste in the first place. These two