The development of knowledge based bio-economies is increasingly seen as a pathway towards a sustainable economic growth based on renewable resources, moving away from the fossil fuel economy and responding to pressing local and global challenges, including climate change. A central feature of a knowledge based bio-economy is that scientific research and knowledge are applied to bio-resources, agricultural and agroprocessing systems, not only to produce food and feed but also to an increasingly wide range of agro-industrial and value added products with potential applications in many sectors, including pharmaceutical, chemical industry, and energy among others.
For countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) the development of a knowledge based bio-economy provides major opportunities, but also serious challenges. The objectives for the SIANI Bio-economy expert group are to;
- Identify in which way countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) could be assisted /benefit from the development of a knowledge based bio-economy.
- Identify how Sweden best could support countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in developing a knowledge based bio-economy.
- Identify key Swedish actors and those parts of the Swedish Resource Base that could be interested and relevant in engaging with relevant actors in Sub-Saharan Africa for the development of a knowledge based bio-economies in Africa.
- Develop a report on the prospects, issues and challenges in the process of developing a knowledge based African bio-economy and how Sweden can assist in this process,
The activities of the expert group include
- Virtual discussions held through a mail-list.
- Two meetings/workshop to be held (September 2014 and February 2015)
- An international Seminar in Stockholm.(October or November 2015)
- Development of a report and a policy brief.
For more information on the expert group, please contact Ivar Virgin