Presentation at ”European Bioeconomy Scientific Forum”
The Biannual conference” European Bioeconomy Scientific Forum” was hosted by the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) on 6th – 8th September. Gremary Aza, doctoral student, attended as part of the youth delegation and in representation of the Bioeconomy Economics research group. Her participation was significant to align her research endeavors with the Global Dialogues on Sustainable Bioeconomy.
The conference's theme was titled “Moving Towards the transformation”. The sessions highlighted the critical discourses and insights shared by renowned speakers from diverse backgrounds. Throughout four engaging sessions, a diverse range of topics was explored. In the first session, speakers like Eva Schulev-Steindl from BOKU and Leonore Gewessler from the Austrian Ministry of Climate Action set the stage for an intense discussion on transitioning towards a sustainable bioeconomy. The focus was mainly on energy transition, efficient value chains, and promoting conscious consumer behavior. Franz Fischler from the Institute for Advanced Studies stressed the importance of having clear definitions within bioeconomy and working on a Circular Economy and Bioeconomy Action Plan for Austria. Peter Wehrheim from the European Commission connected the bioeconomy's vision with the European Green Deal, highlighting innovative bioeconomy products developed in Europe and the established accounting system for assessing the bioeconomy's contribution to the EU's economy. This session was crucial for setting a solid foundation for the discussions that followed, raising awareness, and showcasing best practices and strategies at both the national and European levels.
The second session was characterized by a panel discussion featuring experts from various sectors. Frank-Dominique Vivien and Stefanie Linser from BOKU, Giuseppe Scarascia-Mugnozza from the European Forest Institute, and Marco Rupp from the Bio-based Industries Consortium engaged in a comprehensive dialogue. The focus was on bridging the gap between bio-based innovations and commercialization, emphasizing the role of cities in bioeconomy transition, and including in the future research agenda topics of sustainable land management, balancing agricultural intensification, bioeconomy impacts, and the integration of environmental, socioeconomic, and governance aspects.This session underscored the importance of creating synergies between different sectors and stakeholders from the industry, government and academia to develop a holistic bioeconomy approach.
The third session delved into the social aspects of Bioeconomy. Leire Barañano discussed indicators and drivers for implementing a bioeconomy, focusing on the Basque country. Roel Veraart explored the ethical dimensions of bioeconomy, while Siegmar Otto addressed the psychological aspects influencing sustainable behavior. Mario Giampietro shed light on the shifts in rural development, emphasizing the role of regional networks, private sector innovation, and the global integration of bioeconomy for achieving Sustainable Development Goals.
Side events were facilitated by youth led organizations such as the International Association of Agricultural Students, The Food and Agriculture Youth Institute and the International Association of Forestry Students. Gremary Aza facilitated a presentation about Iberoamerican youth involvement in the bioeconomy and shared perceptions of young individuals working in the industry, academia and international cooperation platforms. The discussions centered on the active participation of young individuals in bioeconomy development in Europe, as well as fostering bioeconomy policies development and integration with Global South Nations. There was a unanimous consensus on the necessity for Bioeconomy development to be inclusive, ensuring no nation is left behind, while also acknowledging and embracing the varied characteristics of countries globally.
