Events - Regional cooperation for innovative bioeconomy pathways to promote health and well-being

This two-part workshop at the Global Bioeconomy Summit 2020, (www.GBS2020.net) will engage participants in a broad discussion about how regional bioeconomy cooperation can promote health, well-being, and resilience through building Bioresources and Bioproducts.

Applied Biotech International Nigeria Ltd is hosting a workshop at the Global Bioeconomy Summit 2020 (www.gbs2020.net ) on 16 November at 16-18 CET, and on 18 November at 8-10 CET (that is 4:00-6:00 pm Abuja / Lagos time) together with SEI Initiative on Governing Bioeconomy Pathways, the University of Bonn and the Science Center Jülich. The GBS 2020 is a high-level, biennial international conference with a mission to provide thought leadership in effectively shaping global bioeconomy policy and practice, and to share in global responsibility of contributing to sustainable development. The COVID19 pandemic has caused unprecedented damage to global economies, sending shockwaves through even seemingly solid foundations, and revealing weak links in both regional and global supply chains. The crisis has not only exposed the fragility of raw material productions and distribution systems but underscores the need for innovation in resource management and value addition. Perhaps the brightest silver lining in the dark cloud of the Sars-Cov2 outbreak is a golden opportunity for nations – developed and developing to prioritize of their bioresources, innovate relevant technologies to power the bioeconomy and bio-industries towards a more sustainable planet.  There is perhaps no better time than now to hit the reset button.  On the global, regional, and local fronts, the need to re-assess renewable resources (bio-resources) comprehensively and then innovatively strategize on the modalities of value-addition, product transformation and regional cooperation has never been greater. The creation of bio-based industries and bio-products that transcends meeting earth’s burgeoning population’s demand for food, feed, biofuels, and renewable energy to catering for textiles, construction products, food, health and beauty products are unambiguously timely.

Although bio-resources are renewable, they are not infinite. Countries and regional economic blocks without a clear policy, need to carefully craft bioeconomy strategic blueprints which outline priorities and policies that ensure sustainable production of raw materials and efficient transformation of same into bio-based products.  Awareness and pursuit of healthy lifestyle has placed biobased ingredients in high demand in some countries while other regions of the world are yet to recognize their own local treasures. This underscores the grave importance of workshops like this, where multi-regional participation leads to cross-fertilization of ideas for the global good. For example, in the USA alone, dietary supplements are a $90 billion market while beauty and personal care biobased products constitute a whopping $433 billion market and growing (Anonymous, 2018 GBS 2018 Conference report; https://gbs2018.com/fileadmin/gbs2018/GBS_2018_Report_web.pdf).

This workshop is designed to facilitate dialogues that will help shape regional collaborations towards a more sustainable creation of biomass, biodiversity (renewable herbal resources, oils, bio-pharmaceuticals) and transformed bio-based products that build local resilience and supports regional stability during crisis and shocks  . The vast disparity and contrasting potentials of countries and regions in both availability of bioresources and building bio-industries that cater to health, nutrition, industry and environment warrants technology transfer, market access and reliable supply chains. After the plenary segment, Applied Biotech will facilitate a thematic breakout session on Bio-products and Bioresources for resilience in all sectors – Health, Environment, Industry and Economy. An example of the product of a good bioeconomy strategy on managing bioresources and bioproducts can be found here https://www.biopreferred.gov/BioPreferred/  The session will be followed immediately by Africa region session where continental priorities and regional cooperation on the various themes are discussed by thought leaders on Africa Bioeconomy.

The workshop is designed across two two-hour sessions so as to also facilitate participation from different regions according to their time zones.

Agenda:

Part 1 – November 16, 4-6 pm CET

• 16:00 – 16:20 Opening plenary session
• 16:20 – 17:00 Three parallel thematicworking group sessions
  • T1: Bioresources and bio-industries
  • T2: Bioeconomy for health and well-being
  • T3: Transnational Innovation System
• 17:00 – 17:10 Plenary – brief introduction to regional sessions
• 17:10 – 17:50: Three parallel regionalworking group sessions
  • R1: EU and OECD/North America
  • R2: Latin America
  • R3: Africa (and multi-regional)
• 17:50 – 18:00: Brief reporting and wrap-up

Part 2 – November 18, 8-10 am CET

• 08:00 – 08:10 Plenary – brief introduction to thematic sessions
• 08:10 – 08:50: Three parallel thematicworking group sessions
  • S1: Bioresources and bio-industries
  • S2: Bioeconomy for health and well-being
  • S3: Transnational Innovation System
• 08:50 – 09:00: Plenary – brief introduction to regional sessions
• 09:00 – 09:40: Three parallel regionalworking group sessions
  • R4: Africa (and multi-regional)
  • R5: Asia
  • R6: EU and OECD/Oceania
• 09:40 – 10:00: Closing Plenary – brief report and wrap-up

Part 2 – November 18, 8-10 am CET