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Abstract
The knowledge-based bio-economy has gained prominence as a research and innovation policy of the European Union. As a policy framework the knowledge-based bio-economy has attracted two contending visions, which can be analyzed as imaginaries – strategic discourses prefiguring a possible, desirable future. In the dominant vision, life sciences will enhance productivity for European competitive advantage in global value chains. A rival vision links agroecology and shorter food supply chains, as a means for farmers to gain more from the value that they add. Each vision favors a different diagnosis of unsustainable agriculture and eco-efficient remedies. Each extends a different paradigm of agri-innovation, foreseeing an economic community that can gain from future markets. These two contending visions give different meanings to the same key terms – knowledge, biological resources and economy. In the EU's research program for a knowledge-based bio-economy, a life sciences vision dominates the priorities, though agroecology has also gained a significant place in response to proposals from stakeholder networks. Through these efforts, research policy priorities have been opened up to more plural agri-innovation pathways.
Acknowledgements
Research leading to these results has received funding from the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme under grant agreement n° 217647, entitled ‘Co-operative Research on Environmental Problems in Europe’ (CREPE) during 2008–10. For helpful comments on previous versions, we thank the CREPE project partners, our advisors (Helen Holder, Piet Schenkelaars, Silvio Funtowicz and Richard Worthington), numerous attendees at relevant events, Bob Jessop and anonymous referees of this journal.
