General information
Code: V4-1824
Period: 1.11.2018 - 31.10.2021
Range on year: 0.35 FTE | 2021
Project leader at FDV: izr.prof.dr. Marko Lovec
Research activity: Biotechnical sciences
Abstract
According to the EC’s definition (2012), the bioeconomy is an “…economy based on the sustainable production of renewable biological resources and their conversion into food, feed, fibers, materials, chemicals and bioenergy with the use of efficient and innovative technologies”. The transition to the bio-economy marks a new paradigm in the organization of business processes. By-products and residues are thus becoming raw materials in existing optimized or new processes. This transition is enabled by new knowledge and technologies for converting biomass into different products, interconnected in cascade and circular (in terms of energy and material) production cycles.
Such an organization of business processes brings numerous economic, social and environmental benefits. New biomass deconstruction technologies and the inclusion of the resulting building blocks in bio-based materials (e.g. extracts, nanomaterials, biopolymers) allow entry into new value chains (e.g. health, smart packaging) and achieving significantly higher value added than the current methods of biomass processing. Producers of agricultural and forestry products also receive direct benefits (income, employment). This is due to an increase in demand for primary products, as well as an increase in the market value of residues (e.g. straw, pomace, green cuttings, slaughter residues), which are becoming established as a low-cost and technologically attractive raw material basis. Further benefits can be seen in manufacturing, where the transition to bio-based technologies represents a potential for adding value to products and better utilization of input materials. A larger number of products from the same input raw material means better branched value chains, and consequently a larger number of transactions between economic entities. The multiplicative impact on the national economy is reflected in a greater accumulation of revenues (and consequently investments, income, as well as tax revenues) and in a larger number of employees. Due to the low cost of transporting input materials, connecting into biochemical values chain usually takes place locally, most often in rural areas. Therefore, the expansion of the bioeconomy brings opportunities to achieve economic convergence between cities and the countryside. Furthermore, the bioeconomy contributes to the circular economy, as it promotes sustainable and efficient exploitation of renewable resources in closed material and energy loops without waste. In terms of social and environmental sustainability, the aspect of the transition to the bioeconomy relating to the substitution of energy and raw materials of fossil origin with bio-based ones is particularly important.
Its multi-sectoral nature is a key characteristic of the bioeconomy. Therefore, for a competitive, dynamic and sustainable bioeconomy, policies need to be fully integrated in a number of areas (e.g. agri-food, forestry, energy, environment, science, technological development). All these areas have their own operating principles, research needs and innovations, which are however interconnected and complementary in the bioeconomy, encouraging the emergence of new products, processes and technologies. Leading countries in the field of the bio-economy, including some EU Member States, are aware of the interconnectedness and complexity of interactions in the bio-economy and are trying to promote their harmonious operation. The bioeconomy is given special attention in sectoral strategies or even dedicated bioeconomy strategies.
In recent years, Slovenia has been investing in research, development and innovation in this field as welll, both in relevant national strategic programmes (we highlight the Smart Specialization Strategy with its accompanying SRIPs, which promotes the development of knowledge and the integration of the economy into new value chains) and through investments of the economy in connection with the introduction and commercialization of bio-bas
Research Organisation
https://cris.cobiss.net/ecris/si/en/project/17460
Researchers
https://cris.cobiss.net/ecris/si/en/project/17460
Citations for bibliographic records
https://cris.cobiss.net/ecris/si/en/project/17460
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