Bioeconomy is economy based on nature. It doesn’t just include making money, it also includes sustainability, technological development and community development. There are three areas of bioeconomy:
Blue Bioeconomy – based on all bodies of water such as oceans, seas, rivers and lakes
Forest based Bioeconomy – wood based including naturally occurring forests and tree plantations
Agriculture based Bioeconomy – mainly based on farming but can include animal husbandry.
I’ve already discussed Blue Economy a little bit. You can read the post here: Blue Bioeconomy
As stated above, Forest based Bioeconomy is based on forests, wood products and by products such as waste. Finland is the best example of a Forest based Bioeconomy that is well developed and successful. Other countries in Europe including Russia and France are working on their own Forest based Bioeconomy policies as a way to holistically improve not only their economies but their peoples’ ways of living.
The United States is considering bioeconomies but since the country has such a varied geography, using just one would be quite limiting and, in the end, not very successful. Individual states seem to be working on their own policies based on their own local resources.
Case in point is Michigan who has held two conferences on the subject as well as teaming up with experts in Finland as a way to leverage their own Forest based Bioeconomy policies. Technology is being developed, and practices are being put into place that will not only bring more jobs to the state, it will stimulate the local economy. Two must read articles are below:
The Second Michigan Forest Bioeconomy Conference
Finland, Maine and Michigan partner toward sustainable growth in forest bioeconomy
The following is a PDF that explains Forest based Bioeconomy better that I can:
It’s important to keep apprised of these developments not only from the standpoint of sustainability but also investment and job opportunities. Technology is being developed to assist with achieving a circular economy from forest based products on a global scale, not just regionally and locally. As policies and practices are developed and perfected, more jobs will be created and the environment will still be protected.
Yes, there will be trade-offs, nothing is perfect. However, the trade-offs will become nominal as more circular economies based on bioeconomy are adopted and become successful.
As always, don’t take my word for it, read and research yourselves so that you can be informed on what’s going on in the world around us. I didn’t know about any of this until I audited a class online, and I am amazed at how long this has been going on, especially in the rest of the world.
See you on the flipside and don’t forget your towel and sonic screwdriver!!
Griffin's Nest 