According to leading experts, the following topics must now feature at the very top of the political agenda: the transition to a circular economy, the promotion of research and innovation, the dismantling of legal hurdles, the creation of fair market conditions, and the promotion of regional bioeconomy initiatives. The message is clear: strengthening the bioeconomy strengthens Germany as a business location. “It is an important key to making our economy fit for the future and sustainable. Germany must act now to maintain its international leadership role and set the course for future generations,” emphasized the two main initiators Prof. Dr. Iris Lewandowski from the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Daniela Thrän from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Leipzig. Already 150 people from research and industry support the appeal to policy makers. The full-length position paper can be accessed here: https://bioeconomy-science-hub.uni-hohenheim.de/

Resources are becoming increasingly scarce, the world's population is growing, and climate change and the decline in biodiversity are threatening the basis of life. People around the world currently face major challenges: The bioeconomy offers practical solutions on how people could live more sustainably in the future.

“A bio-based economy is about producing renewable, biological raw materials, resources and processes sustainably, and using them innovatively. In this way, the bioeconomy can supply healthy food and renewable raw materials, for example for the production of bio-based chemicals and packaging or for pharmaceutical products and medical devices. It allows us to replace mineral and fossil raw materials and manufacture products in a more environmentally and climate friendly way,” explained Prof. Dr.-Ing. Daniela Thrän from UFZ.


Bioeconomy – the economic model of the future

There are good reasons why the bioeconomy is deemed to be the economic model of the future: more than 70 countries around the world now have bioeconomy strategies. Germany and the European Commission were important pioneers in their development and the accompanying research programs.

The newly established Future-Oriented Bioeconomy Initiative consists of an interdisciplinary body of experts, including former members of the Federal Government's Bioeconomy Councils and representatives of the Bioeconomy State Initiative. It sees itself as a think tank and mouthpiece for the further advancement of the bioeconomy and makes clear recommendations to policy makers.


The eight core demands of the Initiative

1. Increase competitiveness and resilience with the bioeconomy

“The bioeconomy can be a key driver for a climate-neutral and fair economy,” said Prof. Dr.-Ing. “Bioeconomic solutions can promote climate change mitigation and resource protection in many areas, make supply chains more robust and contribute to growing independence from other countries.”

“This also strengthens competitiveness,” added the expert. “Sectors such as agriculture, construction, chemicals, nutrition, health and environmental change mitigation can benefit from this. Policy makers, industry and scientific circles must work together to prevent Germany from being sidelined on the growing bioeconomic markets around the globe. We need a clear political course for this.”


2. Improve the prerequisites for bioeconomic innovations

Many start-ups and research groups are already developing pioneering bioeconomic solutions – such as bio-based packaging, sustainable building materials or alternative protein sources. In order to bring these to market more quickly, the Initiative is calling for greater support for research and innovation, among other things.

“In addition to improved financing options for start-ups, this also includes the dismantling of legal hurdles that slow down innovation, pilot projects and scale-up activities,” explained Prof. Dr. Thomas Brück from the Technical University of Munich. “This will enable us to bring groundbreaking technologies to market faster and facilitate sustainable economic growth.”


3. Create fair market conditions

Bioeconomic alternatives are often at a disadvantage compared to conventional products – be it due to unsuitable product standards, for instance in the construction or food sectors, complex approval procedures, for instance when using and recycling bio-based materials, or to a lack of funding structures.

“In order for bioeconomic innovations to establish themselves on the market, we must quickly and comprehensively eliminate existing disadvantages such as unsuitable product standards or complex regulatory procedures in order to create fair conditions for sustainable solutions,” said Prof. Dr. Christine Lang, Co-Chair of the International Advisory Council on Global Bioeconomy (IACGB).


4. Contribute to global food security through the bioeconomy

“The world's population is growing and must continue to have access to adequate and healthy food in the future,” explained Prof. Dr. Iris Lewandowski, Chief Bioeconomy Officer (CBO) at the University of Hohenheim. “But climate change and limited natural resources are making this more difficult. If we want to move closer to solving these problems, we need a strong bioeconomy that enables farmers around the world to secure their income and the food supply.”

New plant varieties that are more resistant to heat, water scarcity or disease promote more sustainable agriculture. Improved access to this improves food security and protects farmers' livelihoods. According to the experts, this is particularly important in the Global South in order to combat poverty and hunger. Farmers should be involved in the development of sustainable solutions.


5. Draw on nature-inspired solutions

Bioeconomic approaches are based on natural processes. They include improving the climate in cities through green oases, biological plant protection in agriculture or regenerative agricultural techniques that maintain or even promote soil fertility.

“These approaches usually offer low-cost, ecologically beneficial, socially desirable and effective options and often contribute to biodiversity,” said Prof. Dr. Lang. “Research into such nature-inspired solutions and their implementation must be stepped up.”


6. Implement the circular economy

“If we want to stop harming the climate and the environment, we need to put in place a circular economy,” emphasized Dr. Markus Wolperdinger, Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology, IGB. “Following nature's example, waste should not be produced in the first place and all material flows should be closed.”

“The bioeconomy promotes a sustainable circular economy by converting biogenic and non-biogenic waste and residues into high-quality materials such as bioplastics, chemicals or fertilizers. This turns a linear economy into a circular and sustainable one,” explained the expert.


7. Promote regional bioeconomy initiatives and international cooperation

The bioeconomy, too, requires global thinking and local action. Successful regional approaches in Europe can serve as a model for other regions. To this end, the Initiative calls for the promotion and networking of participatory initiatives. In this way, bioeconomic solutions could be strengthened locally and anchored in society.


8. Prepare for a sustainable future in the long term

A sustainable bioeconomy is dependent on experts who can master the necessary technologies and steer the transition to a sustainable economy. “In order to successfully implement the bioeconomic transformation in Germany and Europe, it is crucial to give greater priority to education. Both relevant scientific and economic knowledge must be taught,” said Johann Liebeton, Bioeconomy Youth Champion.

"That is why we should now urgently prioritize the initial and further training of experts who can implement the bioeconomic transformation. Education must begin at school and continue on at universities, business schools and initiatives for lifelong learning and further education. This is the only way of successfully handling the transition to a sustainable economy."


Working together for a sustainable future and better framework conditions

“The think tank, Future-oriented Bioeconomy, expressly welcomes the fact that other organizations such as BIO Deutschland with its paper 'Mit Biologie wirtschaften', CLIB – Cluster Industrielle Biotechnologie e.V. or the Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovation (SPRIND) have also published or are planning further position papers on the bioeconomy,” said Johann Liebeton. “These contributions underline the consensus of the German bioeconomy sector that it is high time to finally set the course for a more sustainable and bioeconomic approach in Germany and Europe.”


Additional information
Link to the position paper: https://bioeconomy-science-hub.uni-hohenheim.de/

To the University of Hohenheim’s press releases
http://www.uni-hohenheim.de/en/press

Text: Stuhlemmer