Today, in our world that is threatened by climate change, opting for an environmentally friendly economy is not an option, but an obligation; which is why according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), it is essential to achieve the bioeconomy that it defines as the production, use and conservation of biological resources, including related knowledge, science, technology, and innovation to provide information, products, processes and services to all economic sectors with the aim of moving towards a
sustainable economy”
Given that the youth will bear the consequences of climate change and future environmental disasters, it is important to highlight the role that the youth and future generations have in sustainability and their role in the bioeconomic solutions.
In fact, bioeconomy actually provides a number of solutions to the most important and urgent matters that we, as humans, are facing today. Almost all of these problems are linked to climate change. So, what are the advantages of bioeconomy exactly?
- Reduction of GHG emissions
- Improvement of public health
- Creation of green jobs
- Maintenance of productivity and competitiveness
- Development of actions aimed at adapting to climate change
- Sustainable management of natural resources
- Reduction of dependence on fossil fuels
- Promotion of renewable energies
- Insurance of food security
- Reduction of hydric stress
That being said, bioeconomy highly encompasses some of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations (UN). For example, the bioeconomy promotes health and well-being as well as climate action, which directly and indirectly affect underwater life and the life of terrestrial ecosystem. Plus, it influences the achievement of the end of poverty, zero hunger and the reduction of inequalities. The bioeconomy also relates to clean water and sanitation, sustainable cities and communities, sustainable industries and infrastructures and responsible consumption and production. Hence, all of these goals can benefit from the application of the bioeconomy, in short as well as the long term.
How can we practically boost the bioeconomy?
Research, innovation and training play a humongous role and require investments to better acknowledge bioeconomy, its issues and its application. It is also necessary to create some kind of coherence between economic sector and bioeconomic-related policies to strengthen policy coordination and engagement. Finally, the different sectors implicated should be more aware of the markets and must be provided with the necessary knowledge
base needed to become sustainable.
Today, when we realize that we live in a world of finite resources, we become forced to find and adopt new ways of producing and consuming.
It is important to understand the importance of bioeconomy in order to promote it. Its potentials are enormous and it’s our duty to become activists, now!
Bibliography
- Bioeconomy What is that? (2022, January 27). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DukP2Rbw46Q
- Introduction to the Bioeconomy – Dr. Venditti. (2019, May 8). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UHM110RabY
- FAO. (2019). Towards sustainable bioeconomy guidelines (p. 4 ed.). FAO.youmatter. (2020, February 13). Bioeconomy Definition: What Is Bioeconomy And Its Principles? https://youmatter.world/en/definition/bioeconomy-definition/
- Bioeconomy: the challenges of a key model for sustainable development. (2021, April 22). Iberdrola. https://www.iberdrola.com/sustainability/bioeconomy-what-is-it
