Toward a Systematic Monitoring of the European Bioeconomy

The contribution of the EU bioeconomy to sustainable development depends on how it is implemented. A high innovation potential is accompanied by considerable risks, in particular regarding the exacerbation of global land use conflicts. This article argues that a systematic monitoring system capable of connecting human-environment interactions and multiple scales of analysis in a dynamic way is needed to ensure that the EU bioeconomy transition meets overarching goals like the Sustainable Development Goals. The monitoring should be centered around a dashboard of key indicators and targets covering environmental, economic, and social aspects of the bioeconomy. With a focus on the land dimension, this article examines the strengths and weaknesses of different economic, environmental and integrated models and methods for monitoring and forecasting the development of the EU bioeconomy. The article concludes with key criteria for a systemic bioeconomy monitoring system.

The article "Toward a systemic monitoring of the European bioeconomy: Gaps, needs and the integration of sustainability indicators and targets for global land use" by Meghan O'Brien (Wuppertal Institute), Dietmar Wechsler (FOM Hochschule), Stefan Bringezu and Rüdiger Schaldach (both Center for Environmental Systems Research, University of Kassel) was published in Land Use Policy, volume 66. It is available for purchase via ScienceDirect.