Bioeconomy and Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals

Dear Colleagues,

With the ever-growing urgency to address global environmental challenges, the concept of a sustainable bioeconomy has emerged as a transformative approach to reconciling economic growth with the imperative of ecological conservation. The bioeconomy holds the potential to catalyse a paradigm shift towards sustainable development by harnessing biologically based resources, processes, and principles.

It is my pleasure to announce the forthcoming Special Issue titled “Bioeconomy and Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals” for the journal Sustainability, which will explore the interconnections between the burgeoning bioeconomy and the ambitious targets set by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This Special Issue will be situated within the section on Resources and Sustainable Utilization, reflecting our commitment to a future where economic activity harmonizes with the planet’s limits. Contributions should target the exploration of a myriad of ways in which the bioeconomy intersects with the SDGs. This Special Issue aims to highlight innovative applied research, case studies, policy analyses, and theoretical explorations that examine the following:

1. Policy Implementation and SDGs: studies that evaluate how bioeconomy policies like the Climate Act can be utilized as models for operationalizing sustainable development in line with the SDGs;
2. Climate Resilience: research on bioeconomy strategies that enhance resilience to climate change, contributing to SDG 13 (Climate Action) and beyond;
3. Conservation Initiatives: insights into how the bioeconomy supports biodiversity conservation and land restoration, aligning with SDG 15 (Life on Land) and related goals;
4. Green Economy and Employment: analyses of the bioeconomy’s role in transitioning to green economies and generating sustainable employment, in the spirit of SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth);
5. Technology and Innovation: papers that discuss technological innovations within the bioeconomy, with implications for SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure);
6. Social Equity and Justice: contributions that investigate how the bioeconomy can address social justice and equity issues, underpinning SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities);
7. Carbon Sequestration Strategies: articles on afforestation and reforestation as carbon sequestration strategies within the bioeconomy framework, contributing to climate mitigation efforts;
8. Sustainable Land Use: discussions on the use of marginal lands for bioeconomic purposes to avoid competition with agriculture and reduce food insecurity, relevant to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger);
9. Health and Ecosystem Services: research on the health benefits and ecosystem services provided by bioeconomic activities, which are essential for SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation);
10. Sustainable Industrial Processes: insights into how the bioeconomy promotes the use of sustainable materials and industrial processes, contributing to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

This Special Issue intends to create a diverse and comprehensive compilation of work that not only addresses the critical roles and potentials of the bioeconomy in achieving the SDGs but also scrutinizes the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Submissions are encouraged from a wide range of disciplines, including but not limited to environmental science, policy and governance, sustainable resource management, economics, environmental planning, engineering, and social sciences. We welcome original research articles, reviews, brief communications, and perspectives that drive the discourse forward between the bioeconomy and sustainable development.

Please consider contributing to this timely and vital conversation. Your expertise and insights will be instrumental in shaping a sustainable future.

Dr. Richard Ross Shaker
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• agricultural innovation
• bio-based economy
• bio-based goods
• bio-based services
• bioeconomy frameworks
• bioenergy
• biofuels
• biorefinery
• biorenewable feedstocks
• biomass
• biotechnology
• circular economy
• environmental services
• life cycle assessment (LCA)
• monitoring and evaluation
• renewable resources
• resource efficiency
• sustainable agriculture