Climate change, population growth, soil degradation, biodiversity loss. These are the main challenges that humanity is called to face at the beginning of the millennium. The bioeconomy is one of the keys to tackling them and overcoming them, reconciling the economy, the environment and society. Based on the use of renewable biological resources as raw materials for industrial, energy, food and feed production, according to the European Union it has the potential to create at least one million jobs by 2030. The book that I wrote together with Irene Baños Ruiz aims at drawing a precise and up-to-date picture of the concept of bioeconomy, its origins, connections with sustainability and the circular economy and the multiple applications that we find in different products of our daily life.
I would like to thank particularly Philippe Mengal, executive director at BBI JU, and Marc Palahì, director at the European Forest Institute, who have written in a truly passionate way the foreword and the introduction of the book. Now “Che cosa è la bioeconomia” (What is the bioeconomy) is available only in Italian, soon also in English.
I would also like to thank all those who have accepted to be interviewed (Fabio Fava, Chris Patermann, Catia Bastioli, Massimo Centemero, Sandy Marshall, Mathieu Flamini, Jennifer Holmgren, Michael Carus and Frank Rijsberman) and in general all those who are making the sustainable and circular bioeconomy possible worldwide.
Mario Bonaccorso
More and more women are protagonists of the bioeconomy. This year, as every year, for the International Women’s Day, we dedicate a tribute to all women who are making the bioeconomy happen all around the world. With their huge competences and their infinite passion, they are the stars of the world bioeconomy. Our best and warmest wishes to all women.
Royal DSM and Cargill established Avansya V.O.F. The 50:50 joint venture is a partnership between the two companies. Both parties announced their intention to establish this joint venture on 8 November 2018 subject to regulatory approvals. Avansya will produce zero-calorie, great-tasting sweeteners through fermentation and will be headquartered at the Biotech Campus Delft (Netherlands).
Nouryon (formerly AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals) and Gasunie have agreed to supply green hydrogen to BioMCN for the production of renewable methanol from CO2. The companies say it marks the next step in the sustainability of processes in the industry.
Effective 1 April 2019, the joint venture between Royal DSM and Roquette, Reverdia, will be dissolved and the partners will transfer the rights and obligations related to Reverdia’s Biosuccinium® plant in Cassano, Italy to Roquette. Under a non-exclusive license from DSM, Roquette will operate the plant and continue serving customers of Biosuccinium®. Customer service, order processing, and marketing and sales will be integrated into Roquette’s existing business to ensure a smooth transition. DSM, the original developer of the Biosuccinium® technology, will assume the role of exclusive licensor, in line with its business model in this field.
IL BIOECONOMISTA 