Good Governance in the Bioeconomy

Abstract

SummaryIn response to growing societal and environmental challenges, the concept of the bioeconomy has emerged in Europe, shifting society away from fossil fuels to utilising renewable biological resources to meet food, feed, fuel and material needs. The bioeconomy poses unique questions for governing stakeholders, with a need to simultaneously consider issues of food, fuel and resource security, competition for biomass supply, environmental degradation, climate change, economic growth and rural development. It thus represents one of the most politically complex areas facing agri‐food and rural resource sectors internationally. Further development of the bioeconomy and its impact on society will depend on how it is governed. It is widely accepted that good governance will require input from a diverse range of stakeholders beyond traditional government intervention. In this article, we explore the application of good governance principles as a common set of objectives for European stakeholders to strive towards, with particular consideration given to the principles of accountability and participation. How these elements need to be addressed as a priority for the economic, environmental and social sustainability of the future European bioeconomy is highlighted.