The transition to a bio-economy needs social science

In August 2013, a workshop entitled “The forest sector in the bio-based economy: perspectives from policy and economic sciences” was organised in Uppsala, Sweden. One main conclusion was that the forest sector must take lessons from economic and political sciences to enhance the adaptation to a green economy. The transition towards a bio-based economy involves economic and policy challenges for the forest sector: in designing appropriate regulations and incentives, and in stimulating green forest business development. This warrants a better understanding of how policies and markets shape the conditions for the bio-based economy in the forest sector. The presentations highlighted two key roles of the social sciences. The first involves the conceptualization and definition of the idea of a biobased economy and the implications for society and the forest sector. This inquiry is crucial as the bioeconomy concept is vague and contested, and may therefore be used differently, and with different policy implications. The second group of presentations dealt with the drivers, obstacles and effects of a biobased forest economy, including innovation processes, bioenergy policies, corporate strategies and consumer behaviour. Together, the contributions underscored and illustrated how the transformation toward a bio-based economy needs to be further discussed, examined and even questioned in an open public exchange instead of being an issue just to be considered by ‘specialists’. Further, the workshop clearly demonstrated that the contribution of the forest sector to the bio-based economy must take into account decisions and behaviour among policymakers, industry and consumers.