A comparative analysis of bioeconomy visions and pathways based on stakeholder dialogues in Colombia, Rwanda, Sweden, and Thailand

Figures & data

Table 1. Summary of key pathway components in stakeholder dialogues

Dialogue Location	Level(s) in primary focus	Products and Resources	Bioeconomy Clusters	Landscape Transitions	Aligning sectoral strategies
Sweden	Local to sub-national Öresund	healthier, probiotic foods plant, insect & fish protein zero waste, circular flows	Foodhills – the Food Valley of Sweden Öresund region logistics for products and residual flows	increase of greenhouse-grown vegetables increase share of open land-grown vegetables	sustainable packaging for products to reduce waste product transport with electric vehicles biodiesel and bioplastics from agricultural waste climate change
Colombia	National	greater use of native species and biodiversity agricultural waste and circularity urban waste	develop sub-national technology hubs close to biomass sources lack of physical infrastructure (i.e. processing plants and roads) lack of knowledge-related infrastructure	biodiversity use vs. conservation sustainability standards for products high informality in land ownership	agriculture technification vs. rural employment agriculture and urban waste to energy potential competition of biomass resources among sectors
Rwanda	National	firewood and charcoal in urban and rural areas clean cookstoves solutions biogas	urban and rural settings within the five sub-national provinces of Rwanda	expanded role for agro-forestry and small plantations in firewood supply conservation of forest protected areas	greater cohesion between energy, agriculture, and forestry sectors
Thailand	National to regional (ASEAN)	food products biofuels, renewable electricity, and [bio]hydrogen	build regional technological capacity in Southeast Asia decentralised agriculture and energy production prioritising large-scale vertical systems vs. small-scale horizontal	land and water use efficiency in agriculture	aligning agriculture, energy, and climate change objectives

Table 2. Issues and highlights in relation to bioeconomy visions

Dialogue Location	Key Theme(s) in the dialogue	Biotechnology	Bioresources	Bioecology
Sweden (southern)	Circular bioeconomy for Food Production	Biotechnology needs dictated by sustainable bioeconomy aims rather than being drivers	Focus on developing biomass resources to full potential by well-integrated local supply chains	Resource efficiency and circular economy contribute to improved local ecology
Colombia	Aligning sectoral strategies	Emphasis on the linear model of biotechnology development based on investment in scientific research	Focus on differentiated territorial development based on variation in agroecological and socioeconomic conditions	Safeguarding of genetic material and protection of genetic resources but emphasising markets alongside conservation
Rwanda	Alternative pathways for woody biomass use	New technologies for conversion in combination with improved land use management systems	Shift from uncoordinated resource extraction to planning for long-term resource use and applications	Planning for conservation, sustainable land management and greater diversity in managed landscapes
Thailand	Inclusive Bioeconomy strategies	Strategic application of biotechnology targeting valued-added products for regional markets	Strategies for increased use of agricultural resources that offer improved income and livelihoods to farmers	Establish environmental sustainability criteria to be applied and compared across bioeconomy pathways