Experts meeting in Kenya to develop bioeconomy policies

NAIROBI, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) — More than 500 international experts are meeting in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, on Wednesday to develop strategies and policies on the bioeconomy.
During the two-day Global Bioeconomy Summit 2024 which brought together participants from 65 countries, experts underlined the crucial role of cooperation on the bioeconomy in addressing biodiversity degradation, climate change, and desertification.
Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development Andrew Karanja urged countries to develop bioeconomy policies to help address climate change, biodiversity, and food security.
“All countries and regions need to have clear policies and strategies for bioeconomy in place to harness its potential,” Karanja said during the opening of the meeting.
Karanja said the bioeconomy is capable of diversifying sources of growth sustainably through value addition to biomass and distributed manufacturing as well as strengthening the supply chain.
He urged countries and regions to have clear policies and strategies for the bioeconomy based on their unique natural advantages and societal needs.
According to Karanja, the bioeconomy can support innovation and entrepreneurial activities around value addition and agro/bio-processing to create jobs for the youth and incomes for families.
Christine Lang, co-chair of the International Advisory Council on Global Bioeconomy, said the bioeconomy offers transformative opportunities for reducing dependence on fossil fuel-led growth by harnessing the potential of renewable biological resources.
She said the bioeconomy can contribute to resilient food systems through value addition and environmentally friendly agro-processing.
“Bioeconomy is providing rapid solutions to managing disease epidemics and addressing global health challenges,” Lang said, adding that the technology also contributes to other farming practices that conserve biodiversity and reduce carbon emissions. ■