REPORT ON THE BIOECONOMY WEBINAR AT BIOTECHNOLOGY ONLINE SERIES INITIATIVE OF MAKERERE UNIVERSITY BIOTECHNOLOGY SOCIETY.

Makerere University Biotechnology Society, Biotech Online Series [email protected] SO2E03 REPORT ON THE BIOECONOMY WEBINAR AT BIOTECHNOLOGY ONLINE SERIES INITIATIVE OF MAKERERE UNIVERSITY BIOTECHNOLOGY SOCIETY. Perez Mweine Chief Convener, Biotech Online Series. [email protected] THEME: ADVANCING UGANDA’S BIOECONOMY THROUGH BIOTECHNOLOGY: ADRESSING THE SDGs AND NDP-3. GUEST: Dr. Peter Wanyama, Expert on the Bioeconomy. Abstract Uganda on the journey to embrace the new bioeconomy. Bioeconomy is the translation of Biosciences innovation into commercial and industry products and services with the potential to transform all the sectors that rely on Natural resources. For the case of Uganda, this Biopolicy, is justified in the National objectives and this not only will facilitate the research and innovation but it will give Uganda an avenue to take part on the 4th industrial revolution. Biotechnology Online Series is an initiative of the Makerere University Biotechnology Society. Key words: Bioeconomy, Natural resources, Recycling, Uganda, National objectives

INTRODUCTION: The concept of bioeconomy has gained wide popularity over the past decade. The topic became part of various reports and strategies in a number of countries. Bioeconomy definitions and perspectives shift from factor substitution to biotechnology innovation perspective and nowadays the concept is much more complex and environmentally oriented than before. The aim of this session is to outline different definitions, concepts and to highlight the key sector of the bioeconomy as well as the opportunities for the development of the sector. In this Series, the Bioeconomy refers to the confluence of modern biotechnology products and services and the market niches they occupy. The discussion today focuses on links between bioeconomy and the circular economy, sustainable development and innovations. In the bioeconomy, ‘renewable’ biological resources are used to replace fossil fuels as well as for food, animal feed, and other bio-based products. The bioeconomy agenda emerged in response to the need to find alternatives to fossil fuels. The idea is based on increasing the use of biotechnologies and biofuels, and is a response to growing concerns about the unsustainable use and management of finite natural resources. The bioeconomy is based on the premise that achieving a better balance between biological resources and human economic activities is generally problem-free. The bioeconomy is just the industry’s response to current global social, environmental, and economic challenges including climate change, food insecurity, and natural resource shortages. DEFINITION  According to Dr. Peter Wanyama, Bioeconomy is A knowledge-based development model that entails sustainable production, extraction, processing, distribution and consumption of goods and services from living materials (MoSTI,2020) Also Bioeconomy has been defined as the:

 Production of renewable biological resources and the conversion of these resources and waste streams into value-added products, such as food, feed, bio-based products as well as bio-energy(European union, 2012)  The production, use and conservation of biological resources, including knowledge, science, technology and innovation related, to provide information, products, processes and services in all economic sectors, in order to move towards a sustainable economy(German Bioeconomy Council, 2018). BIOECONOMY ADDRESSING THE SDGs AND NDP-3 A global population projected to be 9BN people by 2050 will lead to an increased to food demand, and associated with this is demand for health services, textiles, building materials among others and there will also be increased competition of finite natural resources which will lead to the depletion of natural resource. And as we deplete natural resources, ultimately this will lead to change in climate. Food production to address food demand in the growing population will be the best option to more than double the food production however does not address other challenges like unemployment, fossil fuel dependency, and also energy plus the climate change among others. Much as we have been living in a bio based sort of economy, Bioeconomy is not becoming popular. Bioeconomy, is nothing but a multi sectorial and interdisciplinary framework for addressing interconnected society challenge through efficiently harnessing biological resources including disease causing organisms to high value products and services.  The Bioeconomy Policy is designed to contribute to the achievement of higher nation objectives, SDGs, Poverty alleviation (SDG1), Food security & nutrition; health& wellbeing (SDGs 2 and 3), (SDG 7); Affordable energy for all, SDG8; descent work, SDG9: industry, innovation & infrastructure & (SDG11); sustainable cities &communities etc.

 It also addresses Africa’s aspirations of Agenda 2063 articulated by the Science and Technology Strategy for Africa (STISA) 2024 and East African Cooperation Vision 2050’s aspiration of Member states reaching middle income status in 2 to 3 decades Bioeconomy is a translation of biosciences innovation into commercial and industrial products and services with the potential of transforming all sectors that rely on natural resources. In Europe, bioeconomy is now central to the success of the European economy with a turnover of 2.3trillion Euros and Bioeconomy is projected to create more than 1million by 2030. In a study conducted by IFPRI- International Food Policy Research Institute, in Uganda, it was found out that the five-year regulatory delay to deploy bioeconomy and research would cost the economy about US$300MILLION in one item as bananas and on the other hand bioeconomy would also result in the indirect benefit of US$43.4MILLION each year for about 30years in banana and cassava to both the farmers and the consumers. For the case of Uganda, it is the bioeconomy that addresses food insecurity, reduces emission of greenhouse gases, addresses energy demands and health services and it is an economy that depends on renewable resources. Our bioeconomy is built on strong foundation of indigenous knowledge and it’s also a step forward in modernising out traditional sectors that rely on biological resources and it also provides an avenue for efficiently participating in the 4th industrial revolution. When we put on a bioeconomy lens we view biological resources beyond food and feed. We are true to visualise logical resources that can enable us to produce biomaterial to produce biobased products. And it therefore provides a shift in the traditional knowledge based development systems that foster more efficient systems for production processing and consumption. As you may realise, we used to pride that Uganda is endowed with nature with abundant natural resources, but along the way the increasing population is using these natural resources and soon may threaten to depletion of these resources. Along the way, we discovered the fossil fuel and over dependency on it may lead to serious global warming. World over, the developed

countries are shifting away from this fossil fuel into smart energy of the biobased fuels that have no emissions. Therefore, if Uganda embraces Bioeconomy, we shall be enabled to reap our biological resource. Currently a country like Norway, shall ban the use of petroleum products like diesel and petrol by 2025 and the shift is towards use of smart energy. Bioeconomy is a circular economy that enables reuse and recycling of resources to enable complete life cycle. JUSTIFICATION: Our Bioeconomy is in line with national objectives for example national objective 11(2): The State shall stimulate agricultural, industrial, technological and scientific development by adopting appropriate policies and the enactment of enabling legislation and national objective 14(a): all developmental efforts are directed at ensuring the maximum social and cultural well- being of the people(GOU, 1995). The NDP-3 goal of “increased household and improved quality of life” recognises technology and innovation as key in improving the quality of life and it came up with 18 programs which encourages different sectors to work together and envisages that if all these sectors work together, it shall foster economic development by 70%. Vision 2040 recognises the value of Biosciences and it tries to affirm it will support and enhance agricultural, health and innovation(National Planning Authority, 2007) CONCLUSION: If the bioeconomy policy is approved and appropriately funded, and then private sector involvement and research appropriately funded, we shall be able to contribute to increased access to water and sanitation and also improve access energy, access to agricultural production, through efficient utilisation of biological resources, including wastes, we shall be able to maintain biodiversity. We shall too be able to contribute towards improved health services through the use of indigenous knowledge on traditional herbal medicine. We want to make sure there are fewer risks due to better energy, better agriculture and better industrial practices

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