Nexus Bioenergy–Bioeconomy

Abstract This first chapter provides an introduction to the role that bioenergy can play in the future bioeconomy by first defining some key terms such as bioenergy, bioeconomy, circular economy and cascading use.Bioenergy is a renewable energy produced from natural sources -energy crops, biomass, wastes and by-products, macro algae, microalgae, seaweeds and aquatic plants- capable of replacing fossil energy. As such, sustainable bioenergy is called upon to play an important role in the future’s economy by contributing to decarbonise the energy systems and providing GHG emission savings.While the bioeconomy concept is still under development, it refers to the set of economic activities relating to the invention, development, production and use of biological products and processes. In a broader sense, bieconomy implies establishing connections with other industrial sectors to make the human activity more environmentally friendly, more circular, more bio-based, more inclusive, more competitive and, ultimately, more sustainable.Compared to the traditional economy which often implies “take, make and dispose”, the concept of circular economy is based on the fundamental 'closing the loop' that implies collecting waste from the different processes, recycling and using it to make new products. Finally, the term “Cascading use” describes the efficient utilisation of resources by using residues and recycled materials for material use to extend total biomass availability within a given system. In this sense, the cascading use of biomass may maintain the optimal value creation and resource efficiency while decreasing at the same time the GHG emissions, minimizing depletion of biomass resource and reducing the competition between different biomass uses such as food and feed, chemicals, materials, fuel and energy.As it is the case for other activities, bioenergy could lead to both positive and negative impacts depending on how, where and under what circumstances biomass and residues are produced, harvested, transported and processed. While most of the environmental studies have focused on the positive aspects related to climate change mitigation such as GHG emission savings, negative impacts have also received special attention mostly as a result biodiversity loss and indirect land use change.In any case, bioenergy sustainable assessments must cover the three sustainability pillars: social, environmental and economic so that their results can incline decision makers towards those chains that are most beneficialIn today’s globalized world, strategies have to be also interconnected. Bioenergy and bioeconomy policies should be aligned with the international initiatives devoting to protect human being and nature such as the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, United Nations 2030 Sustainable Agenda (Sustainable Development Goals) or the Aichi agreement on biodiversity.Finally, one must not forget that the involvement of all actors and stakeholders is essential in the construction of the governance of the new bioeconomy. Citizens, politicians, business, consumers, policy makers, local, regional and national authorities, scientific and technological community, retailers, media, non-governmental organizations as well as development cooperation agencies have a central role to play.