Bioeconomy for Sustainable Food and Agriculture

Policy coherence

28
countries have adopted a dedicated bioeconomy strategy or action plan
17
countries and regions are currently developing one
79
countries include bioeconomy in their national climate, biodiversity or food systems plans
Explore FAO's Dashboard on Bioeconomy Strategies: Access country-level data on strategies, policy integration and trends. 

FAO's role

FAO supports countries by helping them develop dedicated bioeconomy strategies and integrate bioeconomy objectives into other existing national policies and plans, bringing greater coherence to investments, land use and natural resource management across sectors. This work builds on the Aspirational Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Bioeconomy and is guided by the FAO Bioeconomy Toolbox, helping countries turn their vision into action. 

Pillar 1: Dedicated Bioeconomy Strategies 

Supporting countries in building a standalone national bioeconomy strategy from the ground up. 

  • Mapping national bioeconomy potential 
  • Designing the strategy document 
  • Implementing through policies and on-the-ground technologies 
  • Building a monitoring framework 
Pillar 2: Integration into Existing Frameworks

Embedding bioeconomy into national plans that already govern land, climate and food systems, such as: 

  • Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
  • Long-Term, Low Emissions Development Strategies (LT-LEDs) 
  • National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) 
  • Food Systems Transformation Pathways 

Country support

Amazon Bioeconomy Investment Programme

The Amazon is home to 50 million people, 400 indigenous communities, holding 10 percent of the world's terrestrial biodiversity and 20 percent of its fresh water. Yet the people who live there remain among the poorest in the region. Under the Hand-in-Hand Initiative, FAO and ACTO have developed the Amazon Bioeconomy Investment Programme identifying investment opportunities in regional public goods and key value chains to support inclusive and sustainable agrifood systems across the biome.

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Namibia

FAO supported the development of a national bioeconomy strategy aligned with existing development and biodiversity frameworks. The strategy integrates circular bioeconomy principles to address food security, climate adaptation and natural resource management.

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Uruguay

Since 2018, FAO has supported Uruguay's Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries in developing a national bioeconomy strategy through a participatory process involving ministries, research institutes and universities. The process mapped existing public policies and private initiatives already aligned with bioeconomy principles, embedding a circular bioeconomy approach across sectors and value chains.

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