What is bioeconomy?
The Federal Government published a ”National Research Strategy BioEconomics 2030“ as part of its 2020 High Tech Strategy. This refers to an economic concept for Germany which is to enable the change from an oil-based economy to a bio-based economy.
Arrival in the 21st century has confronted mankind with a number of global tasks. The biggest challenges of all are to manage the climate change and to provide the world population with sufficient food and raw materials. One can assume that the world's population will have risen to 9.5 billion people by 2050. As a result, urban areas will continue to increase at the expense of arable land. Added to which, the changing climatic conditions will complicate agriculture. To increase agricultural yields sustainably, it will be necessary to produce more efficiently in terms of resources and energy. According to the opinion of experts, securing food on a global scale will not be possible without a more rigorous national and international commitment, in particular in the areas of agricultural research and bio-sciences.
The concept of bioeconomy attempts to address these problems by promoting a bio-based economy following a natural material cycle, and which is in harmony with technology and ecology. Thus, knowledge-based bioeconomy utilise biological processes, develop them technically and make them more efficient, as well as making their use more efficient and sustainable. Its innovative products and methods for agriculture and industry require minimal power supply, preserve natural resources, avoid undesired by-products and minimise emissions.
Industrial (white) biotechnology is an important stimulus here with a high potential for growth and employment for Germany as a bio-economic location. Due to their large variety of ingredients, renewable raw materials offer numerous possibilities for innovative applications in medicine, industry, agriculture and the environment for the change from industrial, oil-based raw material supplies.
The finiteness of fossil resources and the corresponding increase in prices will considerably raise demand for renewable energy and raw materials in the future. Bio-mass can also play an increasingly important role in providing electricity on an as needed basis to balance fluctuating regenerative energy sources.
However, technical progress should not be an end in itself. It must provide benefits to mankind and allow participation. For this reason it is important to further strengthen the dialogue and interaction between science, industry and the public. Forming of opinion and participation in public discussions on this subject however requires adequate basic knowledge on the opportunities and risks of new technologies.
