Berkeley and the Global Bioeconomy
Berkeley has long been a leading proponent of the bioeconomy, recognizing that modern technologies can help us increase agricultural productivity, reduce pollution and waste, and transform agricultural residues into valuable products. The bioeconomy also offers opportunities to use traditional crops more efficiently to produce biofuels, proteins, and biochemicals; sequester carbon; and promote rural development. More broadly, it can help accelerate the transition from nonrenewable to renewable resources—an essential step toward addressing climate change and advancing environmental sustainability.
Because climate change is a global challenge, the bioeconomy must also be developed globally. No single country, institution, or region can achieve this transition alone. International cooperation, research, education, and the sharing of technologies and best practices will be essential.
Berkeley’s Role in the Bioeconomy
The Berkeley campus has supported bioeconomy-related events and initiatives for many years. The Berkeley Bioeconomy Conference has been held for multiple years, including this year, bringing together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to explore emerging opportunities and challenges.
Several Berkeley institutions embody different dimensions of the bioeconomy. The Energy & Biosciences Institute (EBI) has long focused on the development of renewable biological resources and technologies. The International Bioeconomy Macroalgae Center (IBMC) explores the potential of macroalgae as a sustainable biological resource. The Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI) provides important genomic tools and technologies that can enable new approaches to agriculture, biotechnology, and environmental sustainability. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) also has a strong emphasis on research relevant to the bioeconomy.
Important work is also taking place beyond Berkeley and California. BEAM Circular, along with the University of California campuses at Davis and Merced, are advancing research, innovation, and applications related to the circular bioeconomy. The Beahrs Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) and its extensive alumni network also include many practitioners working in areas related to the bioeconomy. In addition, circular bioeconomy concepts are increasingly being incorporated into courses in environmental economics and other fields.
The Global Movement
Perhaps most exciting is the growing international movement surrounding the bioeconomy. There have been several large conferences that have expanded the issue covered and the regions considered in the bioeconomy. Berkeley faculty have contributed to the establishment of the International Consortium of Applied Bioeconomy Research (ICABR), which celebrated its 30th anniversary in Ravello. It emphasized the potential contribution of modern biotechnology to agricultural productivity, especially in developing countries, the multiple applications of bioeconomy beyond agriculture and the importance of sound regulations in building the bioeconomy. The University of Tennessee sponsored a bioeconomy conference in Buenos Aires providing evidence on the achievements and challenges of the bioeconomy in Latin America. The results of this conference are presented in a new book “Handbook of Circular Bioeconomy”, which provides a comprehensive account of the latest research and thinking on the bioeconomy from a multidisciplinary perspectives. Another recent book “Handbook on the Bioeconomy”, analyses the evolving concept of the bioeconomy and its potential as a solution to major global societal and sustainability challenges.
Civil society organizations and philanthropic institutions have played an important role in building this movement. The Schmidt Family Foundation, for example, has invested in the bioeconomy for years, while Schmidt Sciences has developed initiatives focused on the circular bioeconomy. The Bioeconomy Foundation is explicitly focused on accelerating the industrial and structural transition away from petrochemical-based systems. The Bioeconomy Challenge is another prominent three-year initiative running through 2028. It was officially launched as part of the COP30 Action Agenda in collaboration with governments and multilateral organizations around the world.
International organizations are also becoming increasingly engaged. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has developed programs to advance the bioeconomy for sustainable food and agriculture. These efforts include supporting national strategies, strengthening value chains, and promoting innovation.
Governments have also entered the field with ambitious national and regional strategies. The European Union has established an important bioeconomy strategy focused on replacing fossil-based systems with sustainable, biological resources to drive industrial competitiveness, circular growth, and reduced reliance on foreign raw materials. And here in the United States, the national biotechnology and biomanufacturing strategy focuses on using biotechnology to drive economic growth, strengthen supply-chain resilience, and address major challenges in health, climate, and food security.
Brazil has made the bioeconomy a component of its national development strategy, emphasizing the sustainable use of renewable biological resources and biodiversity to promote economic growth, create jobs, and protect important ecosystems such as the Amazon, Cerrado, and Caatinga. South Africa is similarly using biotechnology, agriculture, and natural resources to promote economic development, create skilled employment, and improve public health.
There are many other national and regional initiatives, each offering unique definitions and priorities. Although they differ in their approaches and specific objectives, they are broadly moving in the same direction: toward an economy that makes greater use of renewable biological resources, innovation, and circular production systems.
Building the Global Agenda
Upcoming workshops and conferences can help clarify priorities and establish a shared agenda for the emerging global bioeconomy.
Two important events are scheduled for October. The Global Bioeconomy Summit will bring together international political leaders, researchers, industry innovators, and civil society to advance bio-based innovation, sustainable food systems, and climate action. The summit will also seek to strengthen collaboration and develop educational curricula. Berkeley and the EBI will contribute to this important effort.
Another significant event is the annual conference of the Global Bioeconomy Alliance in Mexico. This meeting will emphasize advanced research on the bioeconomy, with scholars presenting new findings on both technologies and policies. It will also provide an opportunity to strengthen the foundations for a truly global bioeconomy research community. I hope that many universities will join the alliance and contribute to this growing international network.
Looking ahead, we plan to hold the 31st ICABR conference at Berkeley next July. This will provide another opportunity to promote international cooperation, advance research, and bring greater clarity to the rapidly developing field of the bioeconomy.
We also hope to develop a formal educational and research program in the bioeconomy at Berkeley. Such a program could synthesize the university’s strengths in biotechnology, agriculture, environmental economics, engineering, policy, and other disciplines to address challenges facing California, the United States, and the world.
A Vision for the 21st Century
I believe the 21st century will be defined, in part, by two transformative forces: artificial intelligence and the bioeconomy. Artificial intelligence gives us increasingly powerful cognitive tools, while the bioeconomy provides new ways to utilize renewable biological resources and create more sustainable systems of production.
Together, these capabilities could help us address some of humanity’s greatest challenges, including climate change, environmental degradation, food security, and sustainable economic development.
The opportunity is enormous – and realizing it will require international cooperation, scientific innovation, education, and a commitment to shared goals. Hopefully, we can pursue this agenda together—in cooperation and in peace.