An efficient agro-industrial complex in Almería (Spain): Towards an integrated and sustainable bioeconomy model

González, Francisco Javier Egea; Torrente, Roberto García; Aguilar, Alfredo

doi:10.1016/j.nbt.2017.06.009

Cited by 87 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Instead, many name vague interrelationships between economic, ecological, and social issues and mainly reflect an economic perspective on topics such as biotechnology, eco-efficiency, competitiveness, innovation, reaching or retaining a leading world position, growth in economic output, and (re-)establishing a next-generation industry at large [1, 5,10,11,15,16]. Within the EU's BE strategy, the substitution of fossil carbon by renewable materials plays a big role in key industrial sectors such as chemicals and pharmaceuticals [11], which illustrates the potential in addition to the still very important energy production [17] and primary sectors in rural regions [18,19]. Many strategies highlight the contribution of BE to the circular economy and lately also to the improvement of food quality, alternative food resources, and high-tech sectors [4].…”

Section: Bioeconomy Strategies and Policymentioning

confidence: 99%

Stakeholders’ Interests and Perceptions of Bioeconomy Monitoring Using a Sustainable Development Goal Framework

et al. 2019

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The bioeconomy as an industrial metabolism based on renewable resources is characterized by, not intrinsic, but rather potential benefits for global sustainability, depending on many factors and actors. Hence, an appropriate systematic monitoring of its development is vital and complexly linked to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as diverse stakeholder expectations. To structure a framework of the important aspects of such a monitoring system, we conducted a series of stakeholder workshops to assess the relevance of SDGs for the bioeconomy. Our results show how the complexities of these issues are perceived by 64 stakeholders, indicating significant commonalities and differences among six SDGs, including specific interests, perceptions, and, in some cases, counterintuitive and contradictory issues. Eventually, the idea of a bioeconomy is a question of the perception of ends and means of a societal transformation toward holistic sustainability. Global implications like trade-offs, hunger, poverty, and inequalities are aspects of high relevance for monitoring of bioeconomy regions in which they actually do not seem to be substantial.

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Section: Bioeconomy Strategies and Policymentioning

confidence: 99%

Stakeholders’ Interests and Perceptions of Bioeconomy Monitoring Using a Sustainable Development Goal Framework

et al. 2019

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“…In terms of waste management, the agricultural waste biomass generated by greenhouses has posed serious problems for the province of Almeria, primarily due to the significant increase in the generation of this waste and the inadequate disposal practices followed by growers. In 2001, poor management of this waste caused a health crisis as a result of the accumulation of plant waste in the Almeria region [62,94]. Although until that point in time a great deal of said waste was destined for animal feed or used as a soil input, the enormous amounts of waste being generated eventually brought about the crisis, revealing the need to implement a suitable agricultural waste management system in the province.…”

Section: Current Management Strategies For Agricultural Waste Biomassmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Management of Agricultural Waste Biomass in the Framework of Circular Economy and Bioeconomy: An Opportunity for Greenhouse Agriculture in Southeast Spain

et al. 2020

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For decades, non-renewable resources have been the basis of worldwide economic development. The extraction rate of natural resources has increased by 113% since 1990, which has led to overexploitation and generation of vast amounts of waste. For this reason, it is essential that a sustainable development model is adopted—one which makes it possible to produce more food and energy with fewer fossil fuels, low pollutant gas emissions and minimal solid waste. Certain management policies and approaches, such as the strategy of a circular ecocomy or bioeconomy, are oriented towards sustainable production and consumption. The present study focuses on the importance of intensive horticulture in the Mediterranean region, specifically in the province of Almería (Spain). After having conducted a study of the main crops in this area, it was determined that the waste biomass generated presented strong potential for exploitation. With the proper regulatory framework, which promotes and prioritises the circularity of agricultural waste, there are several opportunities for improving the current waste management model. In the same way, the results of the economic evaluation demonstrate that the alternative of self-management of waste biomass is profitable, specifically from tomato crops. Compost and green fertilizer production also prove to be a key strategy in the transition towards a more circular and sustainable agricultural production model. As for the said transition, government support is vital in terms of carrying out awareness campaigns and training activities and providing financing for Research and Development (R&D).

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“…[71] for bioeconomy policies). This does not only mean political adjustments in single application fields, such as bio-based chemicals or plastics or textiles, but a coherent approach based on sustainability principles that ensures economic returns, avoid environmental problems and meet socioeconomic expectations [156]. Indeed, it requires coordination and coherence between different application fields in the bioeconomy sector to secure the sustainability of the resource base and to enable learning and spillover effects between the various application fields of the bioeconomy (cf.…”

Section: Transition Challenges: the Role Of Governmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Path Transition Towards a Bioeconomy—The Crucial Role of Sustainability

2019

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The bioeconomy is a worldwide used strategy to cope with ecological, social, and economic sustainability challenges. However, we analyze current bioeconomy strategies and trends to point out potential sustainability conflicts and transition challenges. Our analysis shows that the bioeconomy is not sustainable per se, as mere input substitution may entail welfare losses. Instead, it requires further debates and actions to avoid exacerbation of ecological and social strains. Sustainability has to be the key concept behind the bioeconomy and predominantly requires (1) sustainability of the resource base and (2) sustainability of processes and products, especially by (3) circular processes of material fluxes, not least to gain consumer acceptance for bio-based products. Otherwise, the bioeconomy would only entail the substitution of fossil resources for bio-based resources potentially lacking the generation of additional societal and ecological benefits and contribution to climate mitigation. As markets alone will not suffice to fulfil this path transition towards a sustainable bioeconomy, we argue that innovative governance is necessary to reduce competitive drawbacks compared to fossil resources (enabling function) and to secure ecological, social, and economic sustainability requirements (limiting function).

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An efficient agro-industrial complex in Almería (Spain): Towards an integrated and sustainable bioeconomy model

Cited by 87 publications

References 7 publications

Stakeholders’ Interests and Perceptions of Bioeconomy Monitoring Using a Sustainable Development Goal Framework

Stakeholders’ Interests and Perceptions of Bioeconomy Monitoring Using a Sustainable Development Goal Framework

The Management of Agricultural Waste Biomass in the Framework of Circular Economy and Bioeconomy: An Opportunity for Greenhouse Agriculture in Southeast Spain

A Path Transition Towards a Bioeconomy—The Crucial Role of Sustainability

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