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512 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of Trials and Demonstration Projects in the Development of a Sustainable Bioeconomy

by Arne Martin Fevolden, Lars Coenen, Teis Hansen and Antje Klitkou

Sustainability 2017, 9(3), 419; https://doi.org/10.3390/su9030419 - 11 Mar 2017

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 6730

Abstract

This article provides an overview of the literature on demonstration projects and trials, and accounts for how insights drawn from this literature can contribute to the development of a sustainable bioeconomy. The article reviews the literature on demonstration projects and trials, covering both [...] Read more.

This article provides an overview of the literature on demonstration projects and trials, and accounts for how insights drawn from this literature can contribute to the development of a sustainable bioeconomy. The article reviews the literature on demonstration projects and trials, covering both more broad-based studies on demonstration projects mainly carried out in the US and more specific studies on demonstration projects for energy technologies carried out in Europe, the US, and Japan. The aim of the article is to account for how demonstration projects and trials can contribute to the development of a sustainable bioeconomy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovation and Sustainable Development for the Bioeconomy)

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604 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

The Influence of Local Governance: Effects on the Sustainability of Bioenergy Innovation

by Bianca Cavicchi, Sergio Palmieri and Marco Odaldi

Sustainability 2017, 9(3), 406; https://doi.org/10.3390/su9030406 - 9 Mar 2017

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 5853

Abstract

This paper deals with processes and outcomes of sustainable bioenergy development in Emilia Romagna. It draws on an on-going research project concerning inclusive innovation in forest-based bioenergy and biogas in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Italy. The goal is to explore how local governance [...] Read more.

This paper deals with processes and outcomes of sustainable bioenergy development in Emilia Romagna. It draws on an on-going research project concerning inclusive innovation in forest-based bioenergy and biogas in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Italy. The goal is to explore how local governance impacts on inclusive innovation processes and triple bottom sustainability of bioenergy development in Emilia Romagna and, ultimately, to contribute to the debate on the bioeconomy. It thus compares the case of biogas and forest-based bioenergy production. The study adopts an analytical framework called Grounded Innovation (GRIP) and the local governance approach. The study uses qualitative methods and particularly semi-structured interviews and governance analysis. The key results show different outcomes on both inclusive innovation and triple bottom-line dimensions. Biogas has not fostered inclusiveness and triple bottom line sustainability benefits, contrary to forest-based bioenergy. The findings indicate that the minor role of local actors, particularly municipalities, in favour of industrial and national interests may jeopardise the sustainability of biobased industries. Besides, policies limited to financial incentives may lead to a land-acquisition rush, unforeseen local environmental effects and exacerbate conflicts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovation and Sustainable Development for the Bioeconomy)

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390 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Visions and Expectations for the Norwegian Bioeconomy

by Lillian Hansen and Hilde Bjørkhaug

Sustainability 2017, 9(3), 341; https://doi.org/10.3390/su9030341 - 24 Feb 2017

Cited by 31 | Viewed by 5989

Abstract

Developing a future bioeconomy has become critical for three main reasons: (1) The need for sustainability of resource use; (2) The growing demand for both food and energy; and (3) The need to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation. As Zilberman observes, a [...] Read more.

Developing a future bioeconomy has become critical for three main reasons: (1) The need for sustainability of resource use; (2) The growing demand for both food and energy; and (3) The need to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation. As Zilberman observes, a transition to bioeconomy “is a continuing evolutionary process of transition from systems of mining non-renewable resources to farming renewable ones”. Hence, to meet the challenges created by a growing dependence on non-renewable resources, radical changes are needed that involve more than development of or changes within the individual bio-based sectors. In line with emerging attention to the bioeconomy in Europe and elsewhere, great expectations towards the bioeconomy have been launched in high level industry and policy fora, as well as in resource-based economies such as Norway's. Grounded in theories of transition and transition management, this paper discusses the Norwegian biosector's expectations regarding a bioeconomy. Analyses are based on empirical survey data from biosector representatives. Findings suggest that there are clear differences between sectors in motivation for a future bioeconomy. A transition into a complete bioeconomy will demand a system shift and more cross-sectoral integration between these regimes than currently exists. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovation and Sustainable Development for the Bioeconomy)

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557 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Directionality across Diversity: Governing Contending Policy Rationales in the Transition towards the Bioeconomy

by Lisa Scordato, Markus M. Bugge and Arne Martin Fevolden

Sustainability 2017, 9(2), 206; https://doi.org/10.3390/su9020206 - 3 Feb 2017

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 5672

Abstract

Although the bioeconomy has been embraced by many governments around the world as a way of responding to the grand challenge of climate change, it remains unclear what the bioeconomy is and how it can contribute to achieving these broad policy objectives. The [...] Read more.

Although the bioeconomy has been embraced by many governments around the world as a way of responding to the grand challenge of climate change, it remains unclear what the bioeconomy is and how it can contribute to achieving these broad policy objectives. The aim of this paper is to improve our understanding of whether, and how, the bioeconomy includes contending rationales for governance and policy-making. In order to do this, we apply a typology of three bioeconomy visions onto the policy discourse on the bioeconomy. These visions are (1) a bio-technology vision; (2) a bio-resource vision; and (3) a bio-ecology vision. Based on a discourse analysis of 41 submissions to a public hearing on the development of a bioeconomy strategy in Norway, the paper explores the actors involved in shaping the new bioeconomy and analyses their positions on this emerging field. The paper finds that it is possible to categorise the consultative inputs into these three visions, and also that the bio-resource vision is predominant, which reflects the structure of the national economy. Moreover, the paper reflects upon how the contending visions observed imply negotiations and power struggles, which may hamper directionality in the current socio-technical transition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovation and Sustainable Development for the Bioeconomy)

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584 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Value Chain Structures that Define European Cellulosic Ethanol Production

by Jay Sterling Gregg, Simon Bolwig, Teis Hansen, Ola Solér, Sara Ben Amer-Allam, Júlia Pladevall Viladecans, Antje Klitkou and Arne Fevolden

Sustainability 2017, 9(1), 118; https://doi.org/10.3390/su9010118 - 14 Jan 2017

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 10417

Abstract

Production of cellulosic ethanol (CE) has not yet reached the scale envisaged by the literature and industry. This study explores CE production in Europe to improve understanding of the motivations and barriers associated with this situation. To do this, we conduct a case [...] Read more.

Production of cellulosic ethanol (CE) has not yet reached the scale envisaged by the literature and industry. This study explores CE production in Europe to improve understanding of the motivations and barriers associated with this situation. To do this, we conduct a case study-based analysis of CE production plants across Europe from a global value chain (GVC) perspective. We find that most CE production plants in the EU focus largely on intellectual property and are therefore only at the pilot or demonstration scale. Crescentino, the largest CE production facility in Europe, is also more interested in technology licensing than producing ethanol. Demonstration-scale plants tend to have a larger variety of feedstocks, whereas forestry-based plants have more diversity of outputs. As scale increases, the diversity of feedstocks and outputs diminishes, and firms struggle with feedstock provisioning, global petroleum markets and higher financial risks. We argue that, to increase CE production, policies should consider value chains, promote the wider bio-economy of products and focus on economies of scope. Whereas the EU and its member states have ethanol quotas and blending targets, a more effective policy would be to seek to reduce the risks involved in financing capital projects, secure feedstock provisioning and support a diversity of end products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovation and Sustainable Development for the Bioeconomy)

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2482 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Transition Governance towards a Bioeconomy: A Comparison of Finland and The Netherlands

by Rick Bosman and Jan Rotmans

Sustainability 2016, 8(10), 1017; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8101017 - 13 Oct 2016

Cited by 106 | Viewed by 14722

Abstract

In both Finland and The Netherlands strategies are being developed to switch from fossil to green resources in order to tackle the challenges of climate change and resource dependencies and to tap into the economic opportunities that arise. We investigated the similarities and [...] Read more.

In both Finland and The Netherlands strategies are being developed to switch from fossil to green resources in order to tackle the challenges of climate change and resource dependencies and to tap into the economic opportunities that arise. We investigated the similarities and differences in the transition process and governance strategies with respect to the transition towards a bioeconomy in both countries, using transition management as an evaluative lens. The research method involved comparative qualitative case study analysis through action research. We found that the governance approach in The Netherlands focusses on co-creating a long-term vision that informs for short-term action, on facilitating bottom-up regional clusters and promoting radical innovation through cooperation between vested players and frontrunners. Finland adopts a more traditional, top-down governance strategy, focussing on the shorter-term economic opportunities and incremental innovation that keep the overall structure of existing industries intact. We conclude that the Dutch government acts as a facilitator, while the Finnish government acts more as a director of the transition. We recommend that Finland’s governance for the bioeconomy be improved by applying insights from transition management, while the Dutch approach runs the risk of being captured by vested interests. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovation and Sustainable Development for the Bioeconomy)

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230 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Emergent Imaginaries and Fragmented Policy Frameworks in the Canadian Bio-Economy

by Kean Birch

Sustainability 2016, 8(10), 1007; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8101007 - 10 Oct 2016

Cited by 45 | Viewed by 6931

Abstract

Climate change means that countries like Canada need to find suitable transition pathways to overcome fossil-fuel dependence; one such pathway is the so-called ‘bio-economy’. The bio-economy is a term used to define an economic system in which biological resources (e.g., plants) form the [...] Read more.

Climate change means that countries like Canada need to find suitable transition pathways to overcome fossil-fuel dependence; one such pathway is the so-called ‘bio-economy’. The bio-economy is a term used to define an economic system in which biological resources (e.g., plants) form the basis of production and production processes. For example, it would involve the replacement of petroleum energy, inputs, chemicals, and products with bioenergy, biological inputs, bio-chemicals, and bio-products. A number of countries and jurisdictions have established policy strategies in order to promote and support the development of a bio-economy, exemplified by the European Union where the bio-economy represents a key pillar in its broader Horizon 2020 strategy. Other countries, like Canada, do not yet have an over-arching bio-economy strategy, but have a series of diverse, and often competing, policy visions and frameworks. It is useful to analyse countries like Canada in order to understand how these policy visions and policy frameworks are co-constituted, and what this might mean for the development of an over-arching bio-economy strategy. This raises a number of questions: How is the bio-economy imagined by different social actors? How are these imaginaries and policy frameworks co-produced? Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovation and Sustainable Development for the Bioeconomy)

923 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research and Development Strategy in Biological Technologies: A Patent Data Analysis of Japanese Manufacturing Firms

by Hidemichi Fujii, Kentaro Yoshida and Ken Sugimura

Sustainability 2016, 8(4), 351; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8040351 - 12 Apr 2016

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 7056

Abstract

Biological technology allows us to invent new medical approaches, create effective food production methods and reserves and develop new materials for industrial production. There is a diversity of biological technology types, and different technologies have different priorities for invention. This study examines the [...] Read more.

Biological technology allows us to invent new medical approaches, create effective food production methods and reserves and develop new materials for industrial production. There is a diversity of biological technology types, and different technologies have different priorities for invention. This study examines the factors that are important for the invention of biology-related technologies in Japan using patent application data and a decomposition analysis framework. As the results show, patent applications related to biochemistry and biotechnology increased until 1995 because of the expanded scale of R&D activities and the high priority assigned to biological technology. However, the number of patent applications stagnated after 1995, because the importance of biochemistry, especially waste-gas treatment technologies, decreased. Additionally, patent applications for medicines and disease-related technologies increased rapidly from 1971 to 1995. The primary determinant of rapid growth is an increase in research priority, especially among firms in the chemical industry whose technologies are related to supplemental foods and foods with health-promoting benefits. Finally, patent applications involving foodstuff- and agriculture-related technologies increased from 1971 to 1995 due to increased R&D and the increased priority of biological technology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovation and Sustainable Development for the Bioeconomy)

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Review

Jump to: Research

1056 KiB

Open AccessReview

What Is the Bioeconomy? A Review of the Literature

by Markus M. Bugge, Teis Hansen and Antje Klitkou

Sustainability 2016, 8(7), 691; https://doi.org/10.3390/su8070691 - 19 Jul 2016

Cited by 495 | Viewed by 35121

Abstract

The notion of the bioeconomy has gained importance in both research and policy debates over the last decade, and is frequently argued to be a key part of the solution to multiple grand challenges. Despite this, there seems to be little consensus concerning [...] Read more.

The notion of the bioeconomy has gained importance in both research and policy debates over the last decade, and is frequently argued to be a key part of the solution to multiple grand challenges. Despite this, there seems to be little consensus concerning what bioeconomy actually implies. Consequently, this paper seeks to enhance our understanding of what the notion of bioeconomy means by exploring the origins, uptake, and contents of the term “bioeconomy” in the academic literature. Firstly, we perform a bibliometric analysis that highlights that the bioeconomy research community is still rather fragmented and distributed across many different fields of science, even if natural and engineering sciences take up the most central role. Secondly, we carry out a literature review that identifies three visions of the bioeconomy. The bio-technology vision emphasises the importance of bio-technology research and application and commercialisation of bio-technology in different sectors of the economy. The bio-resource vision focuses on processing and upgrading of biological raw materials, as well as on the establishment of new value chains. Finally, the bio-ecology vision highlights sustainability and ecological processes that optimise the use of energy and nutrients, promote biodiversity, and avoid monocultures and soil degradation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovation and Sustainable Development for the Bioeconomy)

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