Factors for Bioeconomy Development in EU Countries with Different Overall Levels of Economic Development

Anna Matuszczak,Andrzej Grzyb,Andrzej Czyżewski,Mariola Michałowska

doi:10.3390/en14113182

Abstract

The aim of this article is to indicate the rationale for the development of the bioeconomy in selected EU countries depending on their overall level of economic development. The research was based on four highly developed countries, i.e., Germany, France, Finland and Denmark, and four medium-developed countries, i.e., Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, and Slovakia for the period 2001–2018. Renewable energy consumption, biomass and agricultural production were analysed as determinants of the bioeconomy development. The question was also answered whether differences in terms of measures determining the level of bioeconomy development between countries with different levels of economic development during the studied period are decreasing or increasing, using sigma (σ)-convergence coefficients. It is shown that the development of the bioeconomy of the studied countries is related to their level of economic development. In the middle economically developed countries, real opportunities for the development of the bioeconomy are noted, through a high share of agriculture in national income; and in highly developed countries—high spending on research and development and the growth of eco-innovation, which contributes to maintaining a development advantage between these groups of countries.

Highlights

The implementation of the bioeconomy concept is a response to the challenges of today’s world in particular in terms of food security and safety, sustainability of resource management, reducing dependence on renewable resources, reducing the impact of climate change, and creating sustainable jobs and progress in maintaining economic competitiveness
It should be recognised that the development of this area is promising for employment growth especially in rural, coastal, or industrial areas and that the effectiveness of bioeconomy development may be even higher, the higher the degree of innovation implemented in agriculture, energy, biofuel production, and biotechnology
The concept of bioeconomy is understood as an economy that relies on materials, chemical products and energy that are produced from biological resources

Summary

Introduction

The implementation of the bioeconomy concept is a response to the challenges of today’s world in particular in terms of food security and safety, sustainability of resource management, reducing dependence on renewable resources, reducing the impact of climate change, and creating sustainable jobs and progress in maintaining economic competitiveness. For several years a number of community documents have been giving clear priority to the bioeconomy, which includes primary production potential, that is, agriculture and forestry, fisheries with aquaculture, and coastal management, as well as pulp and paper production, the management of biomass, including from waste, or renewable energy production based on biomass and biotechnology. This is an important area of the EU economy, which is becoming the foundation of intelligent and sustainable economic growth. There is a relatively high level of support for activities in this area from community funds, but the experience of EU countries with bioeconomy development varies

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