This archive report was first published on 7 July 2020.
Gertrude Ngabirano, the executive secretary of the East African Science and Technology Commission, emphasizes the importance of bioeconomy in the development of East Africa. In an interview, she highlighted the potential of bioeconomy to increase innovation, create new value chains, and mitigate environmental degradation.
Bioeconomy is the sustainable production and exploitation of biological-based resources and knowledge. It involves innovation in bio-based products, processes, and business models, adding value to primary produce, optimizing biomass use, and recycling biowaste.
According to Ngabirano, a bioeconomy has the potential to increase innovation, create new value chains, create and sustain local and regional trade, increase competitiveness for countries in the region to connect to global markets, and attract international investments.
However, Ngabirano notes that regional strategies are necessary to lead to the development of novel industries generating bio-based services, products, and innovations. This will translate into increased and more diverse value-added agricultural production, new value chains, new start-ups, and an innovation-driven growth of existing companies.
Ngabirano identifies the sectors of energy, agriculture, and health as ideal for bioeconomy development. However, she acknowledges that countries in the region face several challenges in the development of bioeconomies, including underfunded research and development and dependence on donor resources.
Despite these challenges, Ngabirano remains optimistic about the potential of bioeconomy to drive broader bio-based economic growth and improve food security in the region. She emphasizes the need for continued improvement in sustainable agricultural productivity, viable agribusiness, and value addition at the local level.
Ngabirano also highlights the importance of the private sector in advancing the idea of bioeconomy. She notes that the private sector is crucial in exploiting market opportunities but is still weak in the area of bio-based enterprise development.
