Advancing the circular bioeconomy!

The global circular bioeconomy is picking up speed, despite – or perhaps precisely because of – today’s escalating ecological crises, energy shortages, and global conflicts. The German government has been a steadfast supporter of this shift towards a bio-based economy with strategies and funding programmes since the 1990s, a commitment reiterated with the National Bioeconomy Strategy unveiled in January 2020. However, progress, particularly in Germany, remains sluggish. This slow pace is echoed in various recommendations, including those from the federal state of Bavaria and BIO Deutschland, raising an urgent question: When will these strategies be fully realised?

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Innovations amidst „German Slowness“

Amidst this perceived “German slowness”, the circular bioeconomy harbours promising developments. In this issue, we not only share some of these innovations but also offer practical advice. For instance, we explore how circular bioeconomy start-ups can reduce risks and thrive in the market, and how companies can navigate CSRD, ESRS and EU taxonomy reporting. One of the key challenges for the circular bioeconomy is transitioning from scientific theory to tangible economic impact. We showcase this journey through the story of a scientist-turned-entrepreneur and share inspiring examples from companies proving that the circular bioeconomy is not just academic but a viable business model. We also delve into how companies are transforming waste from sewage treatment plants into recyclable materials, developing decentralised recycling facilities for organic waste and creating new food ingredient categories. These case studies demonstrate the versatility and economic potential of circular bioeconomy solutions.

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Infrastructure, workforce, and industry evolution

Scaling up, however, remains a significant challenge, encompassing both technical infrastructure and skilled workforce needs. So we highlight the critical role of sustainable recruitment, corporate culture and funding in scaling up. We also discuss the importance of well-managed science parks in facilitating innovation growth and profile a major industry player who has anticipated the change that will be needed and is transitioning into a circular bioeconomy company. These examples act as guiding lights, showing the path to success in this field. But it’s not just about individual companies; entire industries and sectors, like the food industry, need to evolve. We therefore delve into “alternative proteins”, one of the key fields in the circular bioeconomy of the future, on page 18. We also look ahead to the potential landscape of the next 25 years.

Visions for the circular bioeconomy’s thriving future and celebrating 25 years of biotechnology progress

We hope for a thriving future for the circular bioeconomy, one that should be a reality within the next 25 years at the latest. And in reflecting on biotechnology, even with the current stock market struggles of major German companies, we celebrate the progress made over the past 25 years, marked by our anniversary this autumn with a Finance Day. The journey of biotechnology, challenging yet rewarding, mirrors the path we envision for the circular bioeconomy. To underscore this, we also feature two pioneering biotech companies in this issue.

I wish you an exciting read!

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Autor/Autorin

Redaktionsleiter Plattform Life Sciences at GoingPublic Media AG | Website

Urs Moesenfechtel, M.A., ist seit 2021 Redaktionsleiter der GoingPublic Media AG - Plattform Life Sciences und für die Themenfelder Biotechnologie und Bioökonomie zuständig. Zuvor war er u.a. als Wissenschaftsredakteur für mehrere Forschungseinrichtungen tätig.