Sustainable Responses and Innovations towards Reconciliating Bioresources and Economic Interests
Global transitions are required with a new mindset that needs to be integrated in decision-making
Prof. Dr. Anastasia Zabaniotou
Sustainable Responses and Innovations towards
Reconciliating Bioresources and Economic Interests
Global challenges are complex and interrelated. Solutions need interdisciplinary knowledge, system approach, collaboration and increased human ethical responsibility. Global transitions are required with a new mindset that needs to be integrated in decision-making. Education for sustainability plays a pivotal role in societal change. Education transition requires an interdisciplinary approach of natural, technical and social sciences, and the applicability of virtue ethics and local knowledge in innovation, encompassing social perspectives of participation and change leadership. A transformative learning is needed for a shifting from the dysfunctional patterns of interactions causing current complex and wicked global challenges into a more life-enhancing functional one. Sustainability is related to systemic health and resilience at different scales, from local, to regional and global. Sustainable development requires adaption to and mitigation of climatic change, as well as long-term resources and energy security, which puts high demands on renewable energy sources, energy and material higher efficiency. Systems need to be analyzed together with significant interacting systems such as ecosystems, in planning and decision-making.
This presentation aims to highlight the pathways for the transition to Sustainability, by discussing sustainable responses and innovations towards reconciliating bioresources and economic interests. The miracle of Bioresources genesis (photosynthesis of terrestrial and marine biomass) and sustainable biomass uses are presented through the lens of environmental, technical, economic, social, and philosophical approaches considerations. The Biocapacity concept and its balance, dimensions of Sustainability, Circular Economy and Bioeconomy concepts as pillars of sustainability, are discussed. Emphasis is putting on the sustainable use of Renewable Bioresources to produce food, fiber, bioenergy and bio-based products, towards a Bio-based Economy. Biomass projects on biofuels production and cascading bioenergy systems involve various stakeholders (farmers, end users, local planners, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), government representatives, industry and communities), who play an important role in bioresources exploitation. For resilient infrastructures and communities in the context of sustainable regional development, technology, regional approaches, socio-economic and environmental aspects including Public Acceptance, need to be appropriately addressed and bonded to local knowledge, ethical, legal and social impacts aspects in the technology and product development, with inclusiveness and responsiveness.
Nature-based solutions and Biomimicry practices of the Green Economy encourages a new industrial paradigm. Enabling technologies are leading to Business Approaches, where technology-driven innovation is replaced by the Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI, a European Commission approach aiming to foster the design of inclusive and sustainable research and innovation policy and align research and innovation to the values, needs and expectations of society. Beyond scientific/technological progress and economic growth, the goals aim at Ethical and Social Fulfillment.
