In a world threatened by climate change, the drive towards a more environmentally friendly economy is not an option, it is an obligation.
Imagine an economic system where growth doesn't mean depleting finite resources but cultivates renewable ones; where waste from one process becomes food for another; where the very engines of industry work in harmony with natural systems rather than against them. This isn't a utopian fantasy—it's the promise of the bioeconomy, a transformative approach that positions biological resources and processes at the heart of economic activity.
As climate change threatens productivity, health, and stability worldwide, this bio-based model has emerged not merely as an alternative but as an essential pathway to sustainable development. By learning from nature's wisdom, we're developing an economic system that can potentially feed the world, power our cities, and manufacture our goods while respecting planetary boundaries.
The bioeconomy isn't just about replacing fossil resources with biological ones—it's about redesigning our entire economic system to work in harmony with nature's cycles and processes.
The bioeconomy concept first emerged in the 1990s in the context of sustainable development for European economies, though initially with a narrow focus on biology and biotechnology 2 . This limited perspective led to diverse interpretations of what the bioeconomy truly encompasses. Today, experts recognize three primary approaches:
A key strength of the bioeconomy lies in its natural alignment with circular economy principles—reuse, repair, and recycle 6 . Through these approaches, the total amount of waste is reduced, energy is saved, and pollution of soil, air, and water is minimized.
The European Union's modern conception encompasses "the production of renewable biological resources and the conversion of these resources and waste streams into value-added products, such as food, feed, bio-based products and bioenergy" 2 . This includes everything from sustainable agriculture and fishing to bioplastics, biofuels, and beyond.
At its core, the bioeconomy represents a practical implementation of sustainable development principles. Researchers now interpret it through the lens of the environmental, economic, social, and governance pillars of sustainability 2 :
Transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable biomass, reducing waste through circular systems. Benefits include reduced GHG emissions, improved biodiversity, and climate action 6 .
Creating new market opportunities, green jobs, and competitive bio-based industries. This pillar focuses on new economic models based on renewable biomass 3 .
The bioeconomy isn't an abstract concept—it's already transforming industries worldwide:
Sustainable agriculture, fishing, forestry, and aquaculture practices that work within ecosystem boundaries 6 .
Bioplastics, biodegradable clothing, and other eco-designed items that reduce dependence on fossil fuels 6 .
Renewable energy derived from biomass that improves energy security and reduces dependence on finite resources 6 .
Facilities that convert various types of biomass into multiple valuable products, mimicking nature's efficiency 2 .
As countries worldwide implement bioeconomy strategies, a critical question emerges: How do we measure its impact? Despite its relevance, quantifying the bioeconomy's contributions to national economies remains challenging. Part of this difficulty stems from the lack of a universally accepted definition, which then creates methodological problems for researchers and policymakers .
In 2024, an international team of researchers tackled this issue head-on in a comprehensive study published in Sustainability Journal titled "Measuring the Bioeconomy Economically: Exploring the Connections between Concepts, Methods, Data, Indicators and Their Limitations" . Their work aimed to define bioeconomy concepts and explore the connections between concepts, methods, data, and indicators when measuring the bioeconomy economically.
The study analyzed 84 documents that attempted to measure "how big is the bioeconomy?" using systematic content analysis and statistical methods .
The research team employed a systematic approach with four key phases:
Literature review to define bioeconomy concepts, identifying three primary concepts: Biomass-based (BmBB), Biotech-based (BtBB), and Biosphere-based (BsBB) bioeconomy .
Snowballing procedure to find relevant studies, resulting in 84 documents selected for analysis .
Coding content using QDA Miner software to structure data on concepts, methods, data, indicators, and limitations .
Statistical analysis of code occurrence and co-occurrence to identify patterns in bioeconomy measurement approaches .
The results revealed significant patterns and gaps in how we measure the bioeconomy:
This study is crucial because it reveals that our current measurement approaches only capture part of the bioeconomy picture. By disproportionately focusing on biomass production, we may be underestimating the full potential and impact of bio-technological innovations and ecological approaches.
As the researchers concluded, "current efforts only partially measure the contributions of the bioeconomy, and efforts should be encouraged toward a full assessment" .
The bioeconomy represents more than just an economic transition—it symbolizes a fundamental shift in humanity's relationship with nature. Instead of viewing natural systems as resources to be extracted, we're learning to see them as partners in creating sustainable prosperity.
As we look ahead, several developments promise to accelerate this transition:
The European Commission is preparing to present a new EU Bioeconomy Strategy by the end of 2025, which will further align economic development with environmental goals 7 .
Specialized funds like the European Circular Bioeconomy Fund are emerging, providing crucial capital to scale bio-based innovations 9 .
Advances in biotechnology, information sciences, and engineering are creating new possibilities for bio-based solutions .
Places like Catalonia are implementing regional bioeconomy strategies to boost innovation and enhance competitiveness while strengthening rural and industrial ecosystems 9 .
As we continue to refine our understanding and measurement of this transition, one thing becomes increasingly evident: the bioeconomy isn't just part of our sustainable future—it's the foundation upon which that future will be built.
Advancing bioeconomy research requires specialized tools and approaches: