Rose Qamara

BIO

Author: Rose Aloyce Qamara

Supervisors: Philippe LESCOAT, Daniela EROHINA (AgroParisTech), Davide Viaggi, Stefano Targetti (UNIBO)
Type: PhD Project
Discipline(s): Economics (Social science)
Date: Enrollment in the doctoral program on 01/11/2024
Institution(s): University of Bologna + Paris-Saclay University
Doctoral School(s): Doctoral School of Agriculture, Food, Biology, Environment, Health
Research Partner(s): Laboratory: SADAPT - Sciences for Action and Development: Activities, Products, Territories

 Project: DESTINY (Design and Sustainability Assessment of Innovative Biomass Production Systems and Value Chains in the Bioeconomy) is a European doctoral network funded by Horizon Europe through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. Coordinated by AgroParisTech, it trains 15 doctoral researchers to develop and assess sustainable biomass production systems and bio-based value chains. The project combines agricultural, environmental, economic, social and governance perspectives to support Europe’s transition towards a sustainable bioeconomy.

Within DESTINY, doctoral project 6.1 (DC6.1) compares governance arrangements for regional bioeconomy systems and identifies innovative governance solutions. Conducted by Rose Aloyce Qamara, the research examines how policies, institutions and regulations can support innovation and sustainable bioeconomy development. It contributes to DESTINY’s broader objectives by exploring how better governance can enable the transition towards more sustainable biomass production and bio-based value chains.

 Thesis Title: Comparative Analysis of the Governance Solutions for Regional Bioeconomy Systems and the Identification of Innovative Solutions.

 
The bioeconomy has become an important concept in sustainability discussions, emphasising the use of biological resources for production. In the EU, it gained attention following the publication of the first bioeconomy strategy in 2012. The European bioeconomy market has reached over €2.4 billion across various sectors, including agriculture, food and beverages, agro-industrial products, fisheries and aquaculture, forestry, wood-based industries, biochemicals, enzymes, biopharmaceuticals, biofuels, and bioenergy.

Governing the bioeconomy is a complex process because of its cross-sectoral nature and its social, economic, environmental, innovation, and political dimensions. Bioeconomy governance also involves actors operating at different political levels and with different interests, including national and subnational government bodies responsible for designing and implementing policies. Political dynamics may also influence bioeconomy governance. In recent years, understanding bioeconomy governance approaches and strategies has become a key focus for researchers and policymakers. Political factors and economic decisions made before the transition towards a bio-based economy can pose considerable obstacles. In addition, the EU currently has no specific legislation dedicated to the bioeconomy, although it aims to achieve an extensive transformation of bioeconomy sectors by 2050.

This study aims to compare governance solutions for regional bioeconomy systems and identify innovative approaches. Its specific objectives are to:

1. Analyse how scholars conceptualise bioeconomy governance, examine the solutions they recommend, and identify innovative governance approaches through a systematic review.
2. Evaluate the coherence and fragmentation of EU bioeconomy-related strategies and legal frameworks to understand their alignment, overlaps, and gaps in supporting a sustainable and integrated bioeconomy, in relation to biowaste valorisation
3. Compare how stakeholders’ and institutions’ power, urgency, and legitimacy influence decision-making and bioeconomy governance in Italy and France.

Purpose of stay: I will spend one year in France exploring how its bioeconomy has evolved and how it is governed in practice, comparing these experiences with Italy to identify similarities, differences, and opportunities for mutual learning.