This archive report was first published on 8 July 2020.
On a quest for sustainable development, East Africa is turning to bioeconomy, a concept that has been gaining traction globally. According to Gertrude Ngabirano, the executive secretary of the East African Science and Technology Commission, bioeconomy is the sustainable production and exploitation of biological-based resources and knowledge.
Published on July 8, 2020, Ngabirano's insights highlight the potential of bioeconomy to increase innovation, create new value chains, and drive local and regional trade. It also plays a crucial role in mitigating environmental degradation and coping with climate change.
Regional strategies are expected to lead to the development of novel industries generating bio-based services, products, and innovations. This, in turn, will translate into increased and more diverse value-added agricultural production, new value chains, and an innovation-driven growth of existing companies.
Ngabirano notes that the eastern Africa bioeconomy strategy builds on existing sectoral priorities in sectors such as energy, agriculture, and health. However, the region faces challenges in the development of bioeconomies, including the controversy surrounding the shift towards modern bioeconomies.
Despite these challenges, Ngabirano remains optimistic about the potential of bioeconomy to drive sustainable agricultural productivity, improve food security, and create new economic opportunities. She emphasizes the need for continued improvement in sustainable agricultural productivity, combined with viable agribusiness, to drive broader bio-based economic growth.
Ngabirano also highlights the importance of harnessing bioeconomy through research and development, risk-sharing mechanisms, and new funding partnerships. The private sector, she notes, plays a crucial role in advancing the idea of bioeconomy and exploiting market opportunities.
