After nine months of intense debates, the G20 Initiative on Bioeconomy (GIB), which was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, established the 10 High-Level Principles on Bioeconomy as a result of a meeting of technicians from the forum’s member countries. This is the first time that the bioeconomy has been the subject of a multilaterally agreed document devoted to this topic.
The Bioeconomy Initiative was proposed by Brasil’s G20 Presidency, seeking to boost the development of this innovative and productive paradigm based on the combination of knowledge and nature.
Recognizing the remarkable potential of bioeconomy to contribute to building a sustainable future
and fostering economic growth for all, the G20 Initiative on Bioeconomy (GIB) has initiated the
international debate on this innovative, complementary productive paradigm. Its members have
decided on ten voluntary, non-binding High-Level Principles on Bioeconomy, according to which
bioeconomy activities are expected to:
- Integrate and promote sustainable development across its economic, social and
environmental dimensions, contribute to eradicating hunger and poverty and improving health and well-being, whilst ensuring global food security and nutrition. - Be inclusive and equitable, uphold the rights of all persons, including Indigenous Peoples
and members of local communities, promote gender equality and the participation of all
stakeholders. - Advance mitigation and adaptation efforts against global climate change, in line with
applicable multilateral climate agreements. - Contribute to the conservation of biodiversity, the sustainable use of its components and
the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and
associated traditional knowledge, subject to national laws and in line with applicable international
agreements and instruments. - Advance sustainable consumption and production patterns and the efficient and circular
use of biological resources, whilst promoting the restoration and regeneration of degraded areas
and ecosystems. - Be developed through safe, secure and responsible use of science, technology,
innovation and traditional knowledge, with potential benefits, risks and impacts assessed
scientifically. - Benefit from robust and coherent policy frameworks that foster trade for bioeconomy
products and services, market conditions, sustainable business models, decent jobs, local value
creation and private sector and civil society participation. - Utilize transparent, comparable, measurable, inclusive, science-based and context-specific
criteria and methodologies to assess their sustainability throughout the value chains. - Be fostered by international collaboration and cooperation that addresses global
challenges, leverages complementary strengths, innovation and entrepreneurship and promotes
financing, capacity building and sharing of best practices. - Be based on country-specific approaches and implemented in line with national priorities
and regional and local circumstances.
IL BIOECONOMISTA 