Overcoming barriers to building the circular bioeconomy

Aligned with building sustainable and resilient city region food systems (CRFS), the circular bioeconomy is attracting significant interest as an approach to stimulate economic growth and end dependency on non-renewable resources. While small scale projects can provide economic opportunities for youth and disadvantaged groups in rural and peri-urban areas, scaled up, the environmental, social and economic benefits to the city region can be transformational.

However, the development of the circular bioeconomy faces a number of barriers, such as inflexible regulatory frameworks, safety concerns and potential risks, and logistical challenges. 

As part of the CRFS Knowledge Exchange Series, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the RUAF Global Partnership on Sustainable Urban Agriculture and FoodSystems and the CGIAR Initiative on Resilient Cities, are organizing a webinar in order to: 

• take stock of the state of circular bioeconomy development in various city region contexts around the world; 
• identify common barriers to adoption of circular bioeconomy approaches; 
• and explore how policies can create an enabling environment that helps overcome these barriers.  

The main language of the event will be English, with interpretation available in French and Spanish.

Time	Item and presenter
14.00 - 14.08	Welcome and introduction by Silvia Alonso, Co-lead of the CGIAR Resilient Cities Initiative, International Livestock Research Institute
14.08 - 14.50	Speakers:  The investment climate for circular bioeconomy in low-and middle income countries: Dr. Susanne Bodach, Researcher for Circular Economy and Business Management, International Water Management Institute Regulatory barriers, health issues and safety issues: tbc Logistics and access to resources: Hervé Levite, Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment, FAO Multi-stakeholder platforms for promoting innovations in the circular bioeconomy: Dzifa Agbefu, CBE Innovation Hub Coordinator, IWMI Ghana
14.50 - 15.10	Roundtable discussion: How to move from a handful of circular bioeconomy projects in a city region, to policy frameworks that create an enabling environment?   Francis Ian L. Agatep, Climate Change Adaptation Division FoodSecurity & Biodiversity, Quezon City, The Philippines Patrick Muiruri, Food Systems Officer, Nairobi City County
15.10 - 15.25	Q&A Session
15.25 - 15.30	Closing remarks by Jess Halliday, Chief Executive, RUAF

 The webinar will be facilitated by Guido Santini, CRFS Programme Coordinator, FAO

Register