Prospects and Challenges of Bioeconomy Sustainability Assessment

Dear Colleagues,

In response to the compelling calls to action from Cop26 at a global scale and, in particular, to be in line with a sustainable agenda, the role of the bioeconomy is crucial.

The bioeconomy involves several sectors: agriculture, forestry, fishing, and aquaculture, the manufacture of food, beverages, tobacco, bio-based textiles, wood products, furniture, paper, bio-based chemicals, pharmaceuticals, plastics, rubber, and liquid biofuels, and the production of bioelectricity.

The literature shows that the assessment of the sustainability of the bioeconomy is based on circular processes of material flows, the appropriate use of raw materials in accordance with the actual needs of consumers, the availability of these resources, and the effectiveness and efficiency that characterizes all processes and products.

The work submitted to this special issue should, therefore, pursue not just the analysis of consumers and producers, but also of the degree to which stakeholders constitute a community. Evidently, a multidisciplinary approach is required, with the aim of providing numerical assessments that allow us to find solutions to real problems, to foster concepts such as energy communities and sustainable certifications, and to help us develop new markets based on circular/green foundations. Such analyses can support policy makers in charting the direction for achieving a cleaner world.

We must, therefore, overcome our 'selfish' vision by thinking of the whole society, and of future generations.

References

D’Adamo I, Gastaldi M, Morone P, Rosa P, Sassanelli C, Settembre-Blundo S, Shen Y (2022) Bioeconomy of Sustainability: Drivers, Opportunities and Policy Implications. Sustainability 14(1): 200. DOI: 10.3390/su14010200.

Prof. Dr. Idiano D’Adamo
Prof. Dr. Massimo Gastaldi
Guest Editors

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