Global, European and national drivers of Lithuanian bioeconomy strategy

Abstract

The need of Lithuanian bioeconomy strategy is influenced by global, European and national drivers. Using content analysis the main global drivers were identified: increasing population, depletion of natural resources, increasing environmental pressures and climate change. The drivers at European level were identified using EU and OECD documents’ content analysis and the analysis of case studies in European countries. The analysis revealed that scare biomass should be used under four principles: 1) giving the priority to food security; 2) combining food security with sustainable use of renewable resources for industrial purposes and assuring the environmental protection; 3) applying the cascading principle in the biomass value chain, first of all using biomass in the production of the highest value added products; 4) achieving multiple use of biomass, i.e. developing circular economy. Cascading principle will lead to the formation of winners and losers, often in the same subsector, thus creating the highest possible value added will require a targeted, goal-oriented policy. The analysis of good practice in EU countries showed that there are following trends in bioeconomy: use of waste as biomass; integration of bioeconomy subsectors; use of biomass in the production of high value added products; replacement of one type of biomass by another; search for alternative forms of biomass; development of circular economy. The mentioned principles and trends are the main drivers of bioeconomy strategy. Industrial biotechnology will become the cornerstone driving force of the development of bioeconomy sectors. The analysis of bioeconomy strategies and policies in the Baltic Sea Region countries also revealed that Lithuania needs a bioeconomy strategy, which would speed up the sustainable growth and development of this region.[...]