38
2 The Contested Sustainability of Biofuels …
Table 2.2
A typology of bioeconomy development from a North-South perspective
Little to no value-added, insignificant technological
development in the South; most economic benefits
accrued to developed countries
Value-added, scientific and technological development,
and significant economic benefits in developing
countries
Positive socio-environmental performance
Sound maintenance of the international status quo
Environmentally sound bioeconomy, but the
North-South gap remains—opportunity costs to
developing countries.
Sustainable (and equalizing) development
Both absolute sustainable development benefits and
relative gains to developing countries, sustainably
closing the N-S gap
Negative socio-environmental performance Neocolonialism
Exploitation of developing countries through
unsustainable biofuel production which benefits the
North, thus widening international inequalities
Unsustainable development
Economic development and reduction of the N-S gap,
but at the cost of domestic social inequity and
environmental degradation, which may hit back in the
long run