A transparent dialogue on bioeconomy is important for the assessment of its opportunities and challenges. The use of bio-based resources and processes opens up potential for new products with novel properties. The shift from fossil resources to renewable resources might be a viable response to rising greenhouse gas emissions and the looming climate change. However, challenges regarding the social, economic and environmental impacts of this transition have to be openly discussed. A strengthened bioeconomy reduces dependence on non-renewable resources; it creates new jobs and contributes to maintaining European competitiveness. At the same time, it may result in unfavourable land-use effects and impact soils, water or biodiversity. Being aware of the potential positive and negative impacts is important for ensuring the development of a sustainable economy and way of life.
Increasing awareness, facilitating dialogue
The BioSTEP project aims to promote a participative governance of the European bioeconomy through the involvement of different actors (policy-makers, scientists, industry, non-governmental and civil-society organizations, citizens) in a dialogue on the future development of the bioeconomy. The existing data on bio-based products and processes is made accessible to the public.
The BioSTEP product database presents an overview of the main bio-based product categories, production processes and types of feedstock as well as some salient sustainability impacts and governance issues. Case studies on Germany and Finland give an insight into which stakeholders contributed to the design, implementation and evaluation of the strategies and how they viewed their participation (Case studies of national strategies). The findings reveal that some of the strongest perceived benefits of the bioeconomy are managing resources sustainably and its support for investment in new infrastructures, knowledge, innovation and skills (Results stakeholder consultation).
Reaching out to the public
BioSTEP organises workshops, conferences, exhibitions and innovative living labs. Based on the results of its various activities, the project will develop a list of targeted policy recommendations to inspire the (further) development of balanced and informed bioeconomy strategies. The first workshop took place in Utrecht (NL) in the context of the 4th BioEconomy Stakeholders’ Conference in April 2016. It attracted great interest and explored sustainability, policy issues and engagement in the European bioeconomy (results will be published soon on the BioSTEP website). The exhibition “bioeconomy in everyday life” presents a variety of products that contain components made from renewable raw materials that can be used in daily life or are produced using bio-based procedures. At regional level, BioSTEP applies and tests a ’living lab‘ approach. Living labs are research and innovations platforms that allow different actors to meet and explore new ideas and concepts that can potentially be turned into successful innovations.
Text by : Project Biostep
For more details, please visit : www.bio-step.eu
The BioSTEP project is funded under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (Grant Agreement no. 652682) and runs from March 2015 to February 2018. Coordinated by the Ecologic Institute, Berlin, the collaborative project builds upon a highly interdisciplinary consortium of nine partners from Germany, Italy, Bulgaria, the Netherlands and the UK.
