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Abstract
Currently an industrial perspective dominates the EU policy framework for
a European bio-economy. The Commission’s proposal on the bio-economy emphasises
greater resource-efficiency, largely within an industrial perspective on global economic
competitiveness, benefiting capital-intensive industries at higher levels of the value
chain. However a responsible bio-economy must initially address the sustainable use
of resources. Many farmers are not only commodity producers but also providers of
quality food and managers of the eco-system. A public goods-oriented bio-economy
emphasises agro-ecological methods, organic and low (external) input farming systems,
ecosystem services, social innovation in multi-stakeholder collective practices
and joint production of knowledge. The potential of farmers and SMEs to contribute
to innovation must be fully recognised. This approach recognises the importance of
local knowledge enhancing local capabilities, while also accommodating diversity and
complexity. Therefore the bio-economy concept should have a much broader scope
than the dominant one in European Commission innovation policy. Socio-economic
research is needed to inform strategies, pathways and stakeholder cooperation towards
sustainability goals.