Tropical bioeconomy: roadmaps and guidelines for bioeconomy development in Brazil

Abstract

Bioeconomy, in particular Tropical Bioeconomy, is an amazing opportunity, primarily for developing countries, to promote economic and social development. It presents a real possibility to reduce the use of fossil resources, and consequently their environmental impact, and improves the sustainability of the exploitation and transformation of natural resources. To date, several countries have integrated the Bioeconomy in their policy strategies worldwide, encouraged by the recent advances in, and future perspectives of, bioscience and biotechnology, and its great potential to boost economic output. However, the deployment of Bioeconomy, and consequently the achievement of its benefits, will require new and innovative approaches in science, technological developments, business, and especially in global policies and regulatory frameworks that are strongly focused on social development and environmental resource conservancy and preservation. Tropical Bioeconomy represents a tremendous challenge given that the developed country cultures are located in temperate climates, where most of the advanced world economies are also located. Additionally, while more complex biodiversity in tropical areas of the world, on the one hand, represents more difficulties, on the other, it also presents more opportunities, both by increasing productivity or adding new agricultural areas, and by adding value to commodities (for manufacturers or through branding and marketing). Brazil, as the largest tropical country in the world, with a medium-income economy, constantly searches for new market opportunities. In this respect, the development of an innovative and sustainable tropical bioeconomy is of paramount importance today. In order to explore tropical bioeconomy opportunities, a technological roadmapping was performed between June/2015 and June/2018, involving more than 1,500 experts that included researchers, technical experts from the private sector, policymakers, and other stakeholders. The major results of this effort outline the opportunities as well as the technological and non-technological challenges for Brazil in Research, Development, Demonstration, and Deployment (RDD&D) in 13 strategic tropical bioeconomy areas covering agriculture, food, health, bioenergy and green chemistry, and include the major public policies needed. This research initiative had the support of the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) within the project “Agropolo Campinas-Brasil: roadmap of the strategic areas of research aiming at creating a world-class bioeconomy ecosystem” (PPBio Project – 2016/50198-0), and the main results of which are summarized in this book.