How the bioeconomy can contribute to the local economic development in Colombia?

Hector Heraldo Rojas Jimenez

Abstract

This paper investigates how the bioeconomy can contribute to the local economic development in Colombia in the context of strategies for promoting sustainable and inclusive bioeconomy models. Progress has been made on a range of issues, but there remain challenges of developing strategies to strengthen the productive potential of the country to generate more and better opportunities for local economic development. Colombia appreciates a wide and different base of common assets, including area, water and natural decent variety along with a rising economy and accessibility of HR. However, its economy is still very dependent on extractive industries and the primary sector. This paper explores opportunities to leverage new bioeconomy strategies for sustainable local economic development in Colombia. The research analyses information from different the government, universities and industry about the bioeconomy, local economic development, and interactions among those three actors mentioned to drive bioeconomy strategies. Three key questions are explored: What are the interactions between the government, universities and industry in Colombia to motivate advances in bioeconomy? With the advances that exist in the production of the bioeconomy in Colombia, is it possible through bioeconomy strategies to generate local economic development? And, what are the scope and limitations of bioeconomy approaches in the search for local economic development? After probing these questions, local and national level policy implications for integrating bioeconomy, sustainability, and local economic development are examined.