BIOSMART: Managing the transition to a “smart” bioeconomy

The Research Council of Norway’s (RCN) Work Program 2012-2021 on sustainable innovation in food and bio-based industries presents itself as a “visionary framework” for the development of a “bioeconomy.” As the combination of multiple transitioning socio-technical systems (e.g. forestry, farming, fisheries, biosciences, industry) the move to a bioeconomy does indeed require “visionary” work. In particular,…

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NEWPATH: New Pathways to a low carbon society: exploring the beef/dairy system as a ‘community of interest’

Transitioning from a high to a low carbon society is critical if Norway is to meet its commitments to tackle climate change. This is by no means a simple task. Often societies become structurally, economically and psychologically ‘locked-in’, so that one part of the system reinforces another, making rapid change difficult. However, by identifying and…

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Frogs, fuel, finance or food? Cultures, values, ethics, arguments and justifications in the management of agricultural land (FORFOOD)

Agricultural land is a vital yet limited resource. We depend upon it for foodproduction, but it is also in direct competition with other land-based activities, such as housing, infrastructure, mining, investment, carbon  off-setting, nature conservation and industry. This competition has direct impacts for national and international food security. The spectre of food insecurity is also…

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Combined solar and membrane drying technologies for sustainable fruit preservation in developing countries

Is it reasonable that even though there is enough food grown to satisfy the needs of the population in numerous developing countries many still go hungry? The Solar Food Project consists of investigating and developing a technological solution that could significantly improve food processing in developing countries in a sustainable way. The solution consists of…

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BIOTOUR: From place-based natural resources to value-added experiences: Tourism in the new bio-economy

Nature-based tourism (NBT) is an increasingly important sector of the Norwegian bio-economy, and the potential for further growth is high. The BIOTOUR project will analyse key conditions for further development of this sector, thereby strengthening its contribution to business innovation, community development and sustainable use of natural resources. Tourism in the outdoors is undergoing significant…

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