I just discovered my latest paper on a Circular and Sustainable Bioeconomy was published. Hope you enjoy the read! Happy to discuss.
Sharing my thoughts in a nutshell:
- In a world still obsessed with growth and consumption, let us hope that at least the consumption of non-renewable natural resources will finally come at a more tolerable cost for our planet, thanks to an enabling policy environment. But first, market instability and speculative price hikes in commodity trading must be regulated to prevent a worsening of the global food crisis. It is inconceivable that the rich are getting richer while the number of food insecure people increases every year (and will skyrocket as we increasingly experience the consequences of climate change).
- No person behind a desk, in a processing plant or anywhere else is more important than every farmer or forester who breaks their back, rain or shine, even in extreme weather events, to ensure our collective food security and survival. On their work depends the survival of our species in our current hyperspecialised society. I wish our politicians in the ivory towers of the institutions (and every citizen) would remember this every time they sit down to an expensive meal and talk politics - not just when farmers are mobilising.
Now, some quite long personal reflections (also on the next "Industrial Green Deal") below and in the comments:
A circular and sustainable bioeconomy can indeed help address many of the ongoing problems within the EU agrifood sector, but with a few caveats:
🔺 On the upcoming EU's Industrial Policy acceleration:
- We rather need a systemic reform that mainstreams the ONE health concept in all policies, and especially for agri-food, this will require safeguards against green-washing in the bioeconomy sector.
- **Sustainable bioeconomy should not be a secondary market in perpetual expansion; it must replace the existing, linear, extractive, and unsustainable economy.**
- Resources need to be sustainably sourced and used for multiple purposes (cascading principle) to achieve a truly sustainable and as circular as possible model. Otherwise, lets be clear: it's going to be a waste of taxpayers' money, exacerbating biodiversity and climate crises.
🚩 On farmers' protests & requests:
- The EU needs to start putting farmers (the one that prioritise ONE health) at the centre first by regulating the market 1) with better and more long-term contracts, 2) by redistributing the profits more fairly across the value chain, compensating the true stewards of nature and natural resources.
- Build self-sufficiency, not dependency. As if we did not learn anything from the COVID and Ukraine-war crises - and especially not dependency on extra inputs instead of working in synergy with nature, and not more liberalised markets which tend to create concentration of power in a market.
(continues in the comment below, for those interested )
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🌿 Circular Bioeconomy: A climate-friendly solution for the EU agri-food sector?
The EU must strengthen efforts to decarbonize the agricultural sector and adapt to climate change. A well-designed bioeconomy can enhance economic and environmental outcomes by repurposing food loss and by-products.
In our new paper, Sophia Hub, Arianna Lombari, Geneviève Pons-Deladrière and Pascal Lamy point to several solutions to advance the circular agrifood sector and create a sustainable future, such as :
🏦 Utilising economic tools and redirecting fossil fuel subsidies.
🤝 Promoting bioeconomy strategies and regional partnerships.
♻️ Enhancing biomass valorisation and establishing waste collection frameworks.
🔬 Supporting R&D for resource efficiency and competitiveness.
✅Fostering acceptance of bio-based products through education and strategic procurement.
Read our paper here : https://lnkd.in/eQ-YKVcY
#Bioeconomy #Circulareconomy #Agriculture #ClimateAction #CircularEconomy #EU
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FUTUROMUNDO Multi-Conference and Festival | Vice Chairperson German Biochar e.V. | Board Member DVNE e.V. | Career Development and Executive Coach
4moThank you for sharing Sebastian.