Sustainable bioeconomy for agrifood systems transformation

šŸŒ Format: Hybrid

Background

Bioeconomy strategies allow catalyzing the transition to more efficient and responsible agrifood value chains, while reducing pressures on the global environment (like climate change, and biodiversity loss) concurrently. Global interest in bioeconomy is accelerating but cooperation remains fragmented, prompting calls for more coherence and cooperation. The G20 Initiative on Bioeconomy agreed on ten high-level principles to guide the development of sustainable, inclusive, and innovation-driven bioeconomy pathways. COP30 (Brazil) features bioeconomy, and UNEPā€™s Climate Technology Progress Report 2025 focuses on bioeconomy.

Cutting food loss and waste (FLW) and enhancing circularity are strategic entry points. Countries in Asia and the Pacific (China, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Republic of Korea, India) have taken significant steps forward, complemented by ASEAN frameworks such as the Framework for Circular Economy and the ASEAN Action Plan on Sustainable Agriculture. Bioeconomy is also part of the Jaipur Declaration on 3R and Circular Economy (2025ā€“2035). FAO has made bioeconomy a Programme Priority Area under its ā€œBetter Environmentā€ pillar of the Strategic Framework 2022ā€“2031.

The Forum

The Forum contributes to transforming agrifood systems through results-driven approaches, policy coherence, and cooperation. It provides a platform to exchange knowledge on bioeconomy innovations, strengthen stakeholder capacity, and connect innovators with investors for replication and scaling of successful solutions.

Objectives

  • To provide a platform for sharing bioeconomy innovations and approaches that tackle FLW and unsustainable agrifood systems.

  • To build capacity among stakeholders, including governments, private sector, civil society, investors, researchers, and academics.

  • To connect innovators with investors for potential replication and scaling up of bioeconomy solutions across all agricultural sectors (crops, livestock, fisheries, forestry).

Themes

  • Circular Resource Use and Waste Valorization

  • Bio-based Products and Sustainable Materials

  • Innovative Value Chains and Production Systems

  • Pollution Reduction and Sustainable Inputs

  • Ecosystem Restoration and Bioremediation

Expected Outputs

  1. Demonstrated impact and business cases of innovations and best practices.

  2. Increased government interest in advancing FLW and bioeconomy initiatives.

  3. Identified collaboration opportunities with International Financial Institutions and donors.

  4. Expanded networking opportunities between innovators and investors.

Tentative Agenda

  • Day 1: Opening remarks, bioeconomy pathways, global initiatives; exhibition & innovation showcase.

  • Day 2: Policies, partnerships, financing landscape, exhibition regional discussions, B2B networking, ways forward & closure.

  • Day 3: Field trips to see bioeconomy practices.

View the draft flyer

With the support of:

  • ASEAN Secretariat

  • Embassy of the Peopleā€™s Republic of Bangladesh in Bangkok, Thailand

  • The European Union

  • National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), Thailand

  • Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation

  • Office of the National Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Policy Council (NXPO), Thailand

  • National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI), Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Lao PDR

  • Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)

  • Sustainable Consumption and Production Association (Thailand)

  • King Mongkutā€™s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), Thailand

  • Kasetsart University, Thailand

  • DLG Markets Asia Pacific Co., Ltd