PhD in Economics Lymar V.V.

 

Nizhyn Agro-technical Institute, National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, Ukraine

 

Germany bioeconomy strategy vision

 

Global food security, renewable raw materials and energy from biomass, the conservation of biological diversity, climate- and environmental protection, and Germany’s competitiveness are some of the major challenges facing this country at the beginning of this century. Meeting these challenges will require not only great social, economic and political effort, but also intense research efforts and new approaches to research and innovation.

This is the endeavor of the Federal Government’s new research strategy, which has been created to expand the groundwork for the further development of a knowledge-based and internationally competitive bioeconomy. The National Research Strategy BioEconomy 2030 is a component of the High-Tech Strategy and provides vital impetus for the demand areas energy/climate and health/ nutrition, among others.

With the National Research Strategy BioEconomy 2030, the Federal Government is establishing the conditions for the vision of a sustainable bio-based economy by 2030. This carries the promise of global food supplies that are both sufficient and healthy, and of high quality products from renewable raw materials. This vision derives from the development of a free, dynamic, and innovative knowledge-based society. Therein, results from the life- and technological sciences will be accommodated with open-mindedness and curiosity, and (bio) technological progress and globalisation regarded as decisive opportunities. The central objective is the optimal utilisation of the chances created by the knowledge-based bioeconomy, and to translate these into enduring economic growth.

The concept of the bioeconomy covers the agricultural economy and all manufacturing sectors and associated service areas that develop, produce, process, handle, or utilise any form of biological resources, such as plants, animals, and microorganisms. This spans numerous sectors, such as agriculture, forestry, horticulture, fisheries and aquaculture, plant and animal breeding, the food and beverage industries, as well as the wood, paper, leather, textile, chemicals and pharmaceutical industries, and aspects of the energy sector. Bio-based innovations also provide growth impetus for other traditional sectors, such as in the commodity and food trade, the IT sector, machinery and plant engineering, the automotive industry, environ-mental technology, construction, and many service industries.

The research strategy lays out five priority fields of action for further development towards a knowledge-based, internationally competitive bioeconomy. These are: global food security, sustainable agricultural production, healthy and safe foods, the industrial application of renewable resources, and the development of biomass-based energy carriers. Thereby, food security always takes the highest priority. Holistic approaches are essential to resolve conflicting aims between these fields of action, to give equal consideration to environmental, economic and social issues, and for these to be integrated in terms of sustainable solutions.

Serving as guidelines in the implementation of the research strategy are thus the sustainable provision of foods, renewable raw materials, products and energy, the identification of all biomass-based paths of application, as well as the consideration of entire value creation chains.

The National Research Strategy BioEconomy 2030 identifies the measures that are required for each of these fields of action. These measures also serve to build on current strengths in science and industry, and to compensate for weaknesses and remove obstacles to innovation. Here, it will be crucial to attain interdisciplinary competencies, to accelerate the transfer of technology, to expand international cooperation, and to intensify the dialogue with the public. The National Research Strategy BioEconomy 2030 (Fig. 1) relies on scientists’ ingenuity, innovation, and individual initiative, and aims to provide support to these ends with targeted funding. The research strategy defines priority areas for the coming years, and adaptations to current developments, in the sense of a learning programme, will also be incorporated over the duration of the strategy.

Cross-section activities: Developing interdisciplinary competencies, exploiting international cooperation, transferring transfer into practice and intensifying dialog with society
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Fig. 1. The vision of the National Research Strategy Bioeconomy 2030*

*made by the author

The National Research Strategy BioEconomy 2030 lays the groundwork for the development of a knowledge-based and internationally competitive bioeconomy. On the basis of this vision, priority fields of action will be determined to promote research and innovation, and corresponding objectives and measures derived.

Adaptations to current developments, in the terms of a learning programme, will also be incorporated over the duration of the strategy. As a result of the long-term lead character of research and innovation, the National Research Strategy BioEconomy 2030 represents the first and necessary step for a broad establishment of the bioeconomy in Germany. The opening up of future markets and the opportunities for society of a bioeconomy are the duties of all policy areas that help shape the conditions for the innovation behaviour of the economy and society. In accordance with the High-Tech Strategy, research promotion in the area of the bioeconomy calls for innovation-friendly framework conditions.

References:

1.     EC, (2012). Communication on Innovating for Sustainable Growth: A Bioeconomy for Europe. COM (2012) 60 final. Brussels, Belgium, European Commission.

2.     Hall T. European Bioeconomy: strategy and action plan, 2015, European Commission, Brussels.

3.     EC (2015). Boosting the EU Bioeconomy. Brussels, Belgium, European Commission.

4.     Systems Analysis Tools Framework for the EU Bio-Based Economy Strategy: Report on the overview of the systems analysis of the bio-based economy (D1.4), 14 (November 2013). Retrieved June 4, 2015, from http://www.wageningenur.nl/.

5.     En Route to the Knowledge-Based Bio-Economy (2007). Retrieved September 10, 2015, from http://www.bio-economy.net/reports/files/koln_paper.pdf.