BIOECONOMY AND INNOVATION
Bioeconomy is defined as the use of biology for the sustainable production of goods and services for the entire economy. It makes economic growth compatible with the goals of the Sustainable Development Goals. Given its wealth of biological resources, the Americas offer great potential to promote the bioeconomy as a development model. Although initiatives such as the use of biotechnology in agriculture and bioenergies, bioinputs and bioservices such as biotourism are advancing, the challenge lies in their consolidation and full use as a comprehensive approach to contribute to food and environmental security. Therefore, it is proposed to advance in the following collective actions.
Latin American Network of
Bioeconomy:
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It is a space for dialogue, discussion and joint construction between the main leaders of the regional bioeconomy, which was launched within the framework of the ICABR2023 Conference with the aim of promoting capacity development efforts, public policies and investment projects for the bioeconomy in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).
Its work priorities are: 1) the determination of metrics for the bioeconomy, 2) the governance of regional, national and local bioeconomies, 3) the positioning of the bioeconomy in regional and international decision-making spaces, 4) the awareness and communication regarding the potential and risks of the bioeconomy, 5) the acceleration and expansion of bioeconomy solutions (bioentrepreneurships) and 6) the creation of bioeconomy approaches. IICA acts as the technical and executive secretariat of the Network.
Pan American Liquid Biofuels Coalition (CPBIO):
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It is made up of the main business and industrial associations of the Americas dedicated to the production and processing of sugar, alcohol, corn, sorghum, soybeans, vegetable oil and grains, among other products of the agricultural sector. The CPBIO was created in 2023 during the Pan American Liquid Biofuels Summit, organized in Costa Rica by IICA and aims to coordinate the sustainable production, promotion and consumption of liquid biofuels throughout the hemisphere. IICA operates as the Technical Secretariat of this coalition.
Pan American Bioinputs Platform:
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It is a collaborative space between LAC countries and institutions, oriented towards strengthening the subsector, which arose from the need to address important gaps and challenges around normative and regulatory issues, production processes, and research and financing through a integral approach. This platform, whose creation was proposed during the Pan American Bioinputs Forum organized in 2023 in Panama by IICA, FONTAGRO, the Inter-American Development Bank and the European Union, promotes joint work aimed at strengthening, developing and promoting better use of these products of biological origin.
Collective actions
Science, technology and innovation (STI) contributed to the main objective of increasing agricultural productivity in the Americas in the second half of the 20th century. Currently, there are new demands on the STI system, linked to concerns about climate change and food and nutritional security. To respond to these demands and at the same time contribute to the development of more sustainable, competitive and inclusive agri-food systems, STI is a central element. The challenge is to better take advantage of the opportunities generated by the new frontier of knowledge, the existing institutions and increase investment levels. To this end, it is proposed to advance in the following collective actions.
Collective actions
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Adjust research priorities, identifying new technological public goods and building prospective and strategic work and research agendas, agreed between national public institutions (INIA) and international organizations (such as the CGIAR), as well as in global forums.
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Modernize and strengthen the institutional organization of CTI, focusing actions on operational agility, coordination with the private sector and financing mechanisms, in order to adapt them to the magnitude of the challenges.
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Design effective public policy frameworks that promote a favorable ecosystem for the private sector and consistent with the necessary modernization of the region's agri-food systems.
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Strengthen existing collaborative mechanisms (such as PROCISUR and PROCINORTE) and implement new platforms for reciprocal cooperation to access cutting-edge technologies, technological development in the Amazon, and strengthen the innovation situation in the smaller countries of the tropical area and the Caribbean. .
Activities 2023
Regional dialogue on science, technology and innovation:
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On May 4 and 5, 2023, the Regional Dialogue on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) in the agri-food systems of Latin America and the Caribbean was held at the Central Headquarters of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA). , in San José, Costa Rica. The objective of the meeting, convened by IICA, CGIAR and the World Bank, was to reinstate strategic issues on the necessary evolution of innovation systems on the international agenda and identify potential areas of joint work, aligned with national and regional priorities in the Americas. The high-level dialogue brought together authorities, international experts, representatives of national (INIAs) and international agricultural research institutes, regional mechanisms, the private sector and farmers' organizations. Theconcept note, thediary, thepresentations and theparticipants They are available on the event landing page:www.dialogoinnovacion.iica.int
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Strategic partners:World Bank, CGIAR, IICA
