Is Biotechonomy Development Attractive for Nordic Countries and Baltic States?

Institute of Energy Systems and Environment (Riga Technical University) in cooperation with Nordic Council of Ministers’ organized conference on bioeconomy potential in the Baltic and Nordic countries „Is Biotechonomy Development Attractive for Nordic Countries and Baltic States?” that was held on 26th of April in 2016 in the Faculty of Power and Electrical Engineering. Conference has been organized in the framework of a project „Development of bioeconomical model for sustainable use of biological resources in order to reduce climate changes and improve adaptation capacity (BIO-CLIMATE)” that is supported by European Economic Area Financial Mechanism.

In total 61 participants were present in the conference and 140 more watched live conference broadcast online. This indicates that huge attention is paid to bioeconomy development. Einārs Cilinskis, member of the Saeima and Environmental Engineering PhD student, presented that bioeconomy is essential to reach objectives of the European Union (EU). As Latvia is the EU member state, then bioeconomy needs to be implemented in national documents, strategies, legislation etc.

Professor Dagnija Blumberga indicated that biotechonomy has a high potential in the Baltic States. For example, in Latvia scientists are working on innovative ideas, but entrepreneurs can implement these innovative ideas in their companies to produce high added value products for consumers. In order to achieve this biotechonomy development program (strategy, action plan etc.) and biotechonomy market should be created. Therefore, system dynamic models for biotechonomy development have been developed.

Jukka Teräs, senior researcher in Nordregio, introduced everyone to the bioeconomy development in Scandinavian countries. He emphasized that attention should be paid to development of clusters and industrial symbiosis.

Results of system dynamic model that has been created within project was presented by professor Andra Blumberga, professor Gatis Bažbauers and project partner Pål Ingebrigt Davidsen who helped with creation of a system dynamic model and result analysis.

Model has been created for two sectors: agriculture and forestry. 33 products that can be obtained from forestry resources and 66 products from agricultural resources have been modeled. Moreover, each national economy sector has been taken into consideration.

After presentation discussions took place. Conference participant Jānis Vašuks, owner of “Dendrolight Latvija”, shared his experience in producing high added value product from bioresources. Discussions show that support from state institutions and society is necessary to ensure biotechonomy development.