Growing the Bioeconomy– the social, environmental and economic implications
Held on October 2-5, 2012 – Banff, Alberta, Canada
With an ever expanding Bioeconomy, decision makers need up-to-date knowledge to develop strategies to manage this growth. Scientific leaders and economist are invited to work together in a meeting of minds to understand the implications of the growing Bioeconomy. This is a unique opportunity for sociologists, environmentalists and policy makers to pool their collective experience from Europe and North America to assure the sustainability of the developing Bioeconomy.
The 2009 OECD Report, the Bioeconomy to 2030: designing a policy agenda provides an overview of the major challenges, and opportunities, associated with the expected growth of the Bioeconomy sector over the next two decades. The report documents that agriculture could account for about one third of the growth in this sector, however, most of the current investment is in health.
Conference Program
During four half-day sessions, Growing the Bioeconomy addressed the environmental, social and economic implications of the growth in this sector, following an initial scene setting overview of the latest technical developments in this sector. The final day examined what our next steps should be.
See the programme and presentations
Outcomes
The conference developed a shared understanding of the issues of growing the Bioeconomy in Europe and North America, and the shared viewpoints of natural and social scientists, economists, and environmental scientists.
Conference location
The conference will be held at the Rimrock Hotel in Banff, Alberta in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies. It was an ideal setting for calm reflection and stimulating discussion.
Conference Organisers
The conference was promoted by the Canadian Faculties of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine (CFAVM), Association of Public and Land Grant Universities (APLU) in the US and the Association for European Life Science Universities (ICA). The conference was led by the Facukty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada