Dear colleague, I am still hesitant because most BBE technologies increase economic and power-relations rather than reducing them. Maybe an alternative to look at is Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA), as it explicitly focusses on climate and economic impact on the one hand, and some BBE activities can be seen as part of CSA. Tomorrow my PhD Mmapatla Senyolo will defend her PhD thesis on CSA in South Africa, quite a different context, but maybe inspiring for your work as well (you can find articles under my projects (CSA) and you can also send a mail to [email protected]

Vincent Blok Thank you very much for your feedback. I agree with you that some BBE activities can be seen as part of CSA. I will look into your profile and research work given that I am also involved in CSA.

However, i would like to mention that, In this case, we distinguish the bioeconomy from the “bio-based economy” as this latter category is broad and includes almost the entire agricultural, forestry, livestock and fisheries sectors as well as many downstream processing activities and industries. This case focuses on the more innovative aspects of the bioeconomy, for example the creation of new biobased products that add value at local level or use resources in novel and innovative and sustainable ways, such as, adding value /recycling waste i.e. those aspects that address the dynamic and complex societal transformation to sustainable bioeconomies in the region. The scope is on the optimization and innovate use of biomass and biological resources produced from agriculture, aquaculture, bioprospecting, forestry and include alternative sources of food and feed, health and bioenergy services and ecosystem services. The focus on capacity building, technology development, innovation and R4D, job creation, enabling policy environment and regulation. The bioeconomy contribution to regional development would be creating new biobased value chains; enhancing and expanding existing value chains, facilitating local production through the use of local inputs; enabling local value creation through research and innovation by providing incentives and promoting system changes and increased capacity ensuring global competitiveness

I see, I guess this solves already part of the problem. Please feel free to contact me if you need further support or intellectual exchanges ok

Vincent Blok . Will very much do.

The material you have sent is received with thanks

The concept of economic development in accordance with the principles of bioeconomy, sustainable pro-ecological development, circular economy, green economy etc. appears in various economic regions, in various developed and developing countries, and should ultimately be implemented in economic processes on a global scale.

Regards,

Dariusz Prokopowicz

Later in 2021, we will commence a new project which is an EU-African collaboration called BIO4AFRICA. The project will demonstrate new biobased value chain opportunities through biorefinery demonstration in a Uganda, Ghana, Senegal and Ivory Coast. We are looking forward to it.