The Democratic Character of Bioeconomy Policy of the USA and Brazil

• In Event: Democratic Politics, Development, and the Environment

Abstract

Currently, environmentalism and global politics are concerned with the far-reaching transformation of both the resource base and the economic system. To this end, the emerging bioeconomy seeks to align economic development with environmental sustainability by transforming societies and economies towards the substitution of fossil fuels with renewable resources, biomaterials, bioenergy and biofuels in closed material cycles. Over the last decade, at least 49 states have introduced bioeconomy policies and strategies and the governance of bioeconomy has become the topic of academic analysis and debate. However, scientific research lacks systematic analysis of how inclusive and democratic bioeconomy policy is and who actually governs the bioeconomy. Against this background and based on institutionalist approaches, this paper analyses the bioeconomy policies of two leading bioeconomy countries namely the USA and Brazil from a comparative perspective. In particular, the paper identifies the key actors governing bioeconomy in each country and analyses to what extent stakeholders such as farmers and major corporations participate in the emerging bioeconomy by focusing on policy goals and instruments. We discuss the rationale behind the national bioeconomy policies and reflect on the country-specific similarities and differences of the democratic character of bioeconomy policy.

Authors

• Maria Proestou, Humboldt University of Berlin

• Peter H. Feindt, Humboldt University of Berlin, Agricultural and Food Policy Group