Introduction to the Handbook on the Bioeconomy

This introduction to the Handbook on the Bioeconomy aims to familiarise the reader with the concept of bioeconomy and to summarise the main content of the papers collected in this book. Defining the bioeconomy goes much beyond the identification of the economic sectors involved. It also implies understanding drivers, technologies and characteristics sought for the bioeconomy, and how academic disciplines (economics and close fields) are evolving with it. The 16 chapters of the book (including this one) provide a deep understanding of a range of issues, such as bioeconomy statistics, political economy, bioeconomy strategies and policies, consumers, supply, innovation systems, modelling and education. They also explore potential pathways for future economic research in the field of the economics of the bioeconomy.