Workshop Summary Notes: Towards A West African Regional Bioeconomy: The Contribution of Policy, Science, and Technology Innovations

AKADEMIYA2063; Center for Development Research (ZEF)/ University of Bonn; Centre de Suivi Ecologique (CSE); International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe); 4 September 2025, Dakar, Senegal

Transcript

1. For official use only 1 Workshop Summary Notes Towards A West African Regional Bioeconomy: The Contribution of Policy, Science, and Technology Innovations Organizers: AKADEMIYA2063; Center for Development Research (ZEF)/ University of Bonn; Centre de Suivi Ecologique (CSE); International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) // 4 September 2025, Dakar, Senegal 1. Background and objectives of the workshop As momentum around the bioeconomy grows across Africa, there is increasing recognition of opportunities for leveraging the continent’s rich and diverse supply of natural resources together with its science and knowledge for sustainable solutions. With the ambition of expanding the production of value-added products from renewable biological resources, a bioeconomy combines natural resources, scientific knowledge, and technologies with markets and business opportunities. Institutional interventions and policy guidance will be crucial to the development of country-level and regional strategies to facilitate the adoption of biobased economies. To date, more than 65 countries worldwide have developed dedicated bioeconomy strategies. South Africa was the first African country to establish a dedicated bioeconomy strategy in 2013, followed by Namibia and Ethiopia in 2024; at the continental level, the East African Community (EAC) developed a regional bioeconomy strategy in 2022, becoming the first regional economic bloc to develop such a framework. The growing relevance of the bioeconomy in Africa was further underscored by the most recent Global Bioeconomy Summit, held in Nairobi, Kenya, in October 2024. It marked the first time the Summit convened outside of Germany. Moreover, the South African-led G20 has Bioeconomy on the Agenda, which was also the case with the G20 Presidency of Brazil in 2024. This momentum presents a timely opportunity to place the bioeconomy firmly on the policy agenda of West African countries. This focused regional workshop, hosted in Senegal, served as a strategic platform to initiate discussions and explore pathways for West African bioeconomy agendas, leveraging partnerships with key stakeholders in the sector to shape regional bioeconomy dialogue and development. The invite-only session was designed to stimulate a high-level, action-
2. For official use only 2 oriented discussion on how West African countries can collectively shape a sustainable and inclusive bioeconomy. The workshop represented a timely and strategic opportunity to catalyze regional action on the bioeconomy and build strong African representation in global discussions with the objectives of: • Providing a platform for West African countries to discuss pathways towards comprehensive national bioeconomy agendas. • Identifying the region’s key priorities in the bioeconomy space and strengthening regional coordination in the sector. • Positioning Senegal as a regional player in advancing bioeconomy policy and practice. • Facilitating knowledge sharing and learning from best practices to support the development of a West African bioeconomy agenda. The workshop also served as a preparatory step for the GBS 2026 in Dublin, Ireland, and the GBS preparatory meeting in Hannover, Germany, in January 2026. 2. Unlocking Africa’s Bioeconomy: A Strategic Pathway for Growth and Resilience (Drawing on the opening remarks by Dr Ousmane Badiane and the keynote presentation by Dr Julius Ecuru) Africa stands at a critical juncture in shaping a bioeconomy that reflects both its ecological wealth and technological potential. Drawing on a diverse set of practices, products, and traditional knowledge systems, the continent is laying the groundwork for a sustainable and inclusive bioeconomy. Integrating innovations from biotechnology, agriculture, energy, health, and industry, the bioeconomy is increasingly viewed as a strategic lever for achieving Africa’s development vision, as outlined in Agenda 2063, particularly Aspiration 1 and Goals 1–7, which prioritize inclusive growth and sustainable development. Although there is no single global definition of the bioeconomy, the IACGB’s definition offers a practical and inclusive framework. Africa’s interpretation of the bioeconomy continues to evolve, shaped by regional realities and opportunities. The IACGB 2024 report highlights key trends in national and regional bioeconomy strategies, including efforts to align with global frameworks like the Global Bioeconomy Summit (GBS 2018), which inspired the EAC’s bioeconomy strategy. Across Africa, countries are beginning to integrate bioeconomy considerations into broader policy arenas such as energy transition, agroecology, and green industrial transformation.
3. For official use only 3 West Africa, in particular, holds a competitive edge in the bioeconomy. It is richly endowed with biomass, growing technological capacity, and traditional knowledge systems, making it well-positioned to build climate-resilient supply chains and increase the share of sustainable manufacturing. Countries like Senegal may not yet have a formal bioeconomy strategy, but the principles of bioeconomy are embedded across several sectors: from agroecology and eco-construction (e.g., clay-based bricks) to green industrialization and renewable energy. This momentum offers a window of opportunity. With the right investments and policy frameworks, the bioeconomy can be a driver of economic transformation, fostering innovation, increasing revenues for businesses (as evidenced by BioInnovate Africa’s support to enterprises), and boosting intra-African trade. Moreover, bioeconomy strategies are increasingly seen as a lever to achieving sustainable agrifood systems transformation. As countries develop food systems pathways, integrating bioeconomy into these strategies can unlock new opportunities for value addition, reduce food loss, and improve resilience. This includes not only agriculture and forestry, but also energy (e.g., bioenergy freeing up biomass for materials), the construction sector, pharmaceuticals, and the chemical industry, where microbial innovations present untapped potential. To advance the bioeconomy, coordination is required at multiple levels. At the national level, this includes increased investment in R&D, education, and an enabling regulatory environment. Regionally, in West Africa, ECOWAS can play a central role in articulating a shared vision and supporting cross-border collaboration. While initiatives like BioInnovate Africa are already demonstrating elsewhere on the continent how targeted support can translate into economic impact and innovation, scaling this support in West Africa could present an important strategic opportunity for the region. Strategic data tools are also on the horizon: a biomass satellite from ESA (European Space Agency), expected to provide data next year, could offer insights into biomass availability and help identify sustainable extraction and usage opportunities. This kind of data-driven approach will be essential for ensuring the bioeconomy not only grows, but does so sustainably. Africa’s abundant natural resources, innovation potential, and expanding (integrated) markets present a rare convergence of assets. The opportunity lies in combining these strengths through smart policies, investment, and collaboration across borders, sectors, and amongst stakeholders.
4. For official use only 4 3. From Vision to Action: Africa’s Role in the Global Bioeconomy Momentum (Drawing on the remarks by Dr Ben Durham, Prof Joachim von Braun, Prof Cheikh Mbow, and Dr Hans-Joerg Lutzeyer) As environmental, economic, and social challenges converge, a growing international consensus is forming around the bioeconomy as a transformative pathway toward sustainability and inclusive development. Africa, with its abundant natural resources and youthful population, is uniquely positioned to lead, but this requires strategic coordination, investment, and action. In 2024, Brazil, holding the G20 presidency, launched the G20 Initiative on Bioeconomy (GIB), a landmark step that led the world’s 20 largest economies to endorse 10 High-Level Principles on Bioeconomy. These principles define a shared global vision that positions the bioeconomy not just as an environmental imperative, but as a means to achieve economic growth, social equity, and environmental resilience. The momentum is reinforced by key global forums, such as the 2025 Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA), held annually in Berlin, which strongly endorsed the bioeconomy, calling for strengthened science, innovation, communication, and traditional knowledge integration. Similarly, the Global Bioeconomy Summit (GBS) has grown significantly in influence. Held in Nairobi in 2024 and planned for Dublin in 2026, the Summit emphasizes embedding bioeconomy principles into education systems, aligning with broader economic policy, and developing standards to unlock market access. Importantly, these global developments are not just about high-level vision; they are moving rapidly toward implementation. Holding the current G20 presidency, South Africa has committed to driving the GIB agenda forward, ensuring that Africa is not just a participant but a shaper of global bioeconomy frameworks. At the inaugural GIB meeting in 2025, a sobering fact was highlighted: Africa captures less than 10% of the final value of its biomass. This stark figure reveals both the continent’s untapped potential and the urgency for action. Key enablers to unlock this potential include technological innovation, private sector investment, and better access to finance. To this end, FSDAfrica and Nature Finance launched the concept of a “Bioeconomy Financing Hub for Africa”, aiming to mobilize funding and support for African-led initiatives. Meanwhile, FAO introduced a comprehensive bioeconomy metrics toolbox, providing practical tools to track development across value chains, sectors, and regions.
5. For official use only 5 As global frameworks take shape, Africa must also build on its existing partnerships and regional strategies, such as ECOWAS visions and the work of organizations like BioInnovate Africa. Consideration must be given to establishing an International Research Consortium, strengthening regional and national strategies, and anchoring the bioeconomy within broader development agendas, including the energy transition, agroecology, agrifood systems, and climate action. At the upcoming GIB meeting in mid-September in South Africa, discussions will center on creating global governance structures to coordinate efforts across regions and scales and to harness global momentum and continental capacity to define an African bioeconomy that delivers prosperity, resilience, and inclusive growth. 4. Country Perspectives (Drawing on the remarks by Dr Julius Ecurum, Dr Ben Durham, Prof Cheikh Mbow, Dr. Rose Omari, Prof. Folasade M. Olajuyigbe, and workshop participants) A moderated panel discussion brought together experts from across West Africa to explore national perspectives on the bioeconomy and how countries are positioning themselves within this emerging development space. Speakers emphasized Africa’s natural advantages, demographic strengths, and indigenous knowledge systems, while highlighting country- level approaches, policy gaps, and opportunities for investment and innovation. Dr. Julius Ecuru opened the discussion by presenting the investment case for Africa’s bioeconomy, identifying two core opportunities. First, Africa holds the largest biomass and biodiversity in the world, which supports the livelihoods of more than 65% of its population. This biological wealth is a key asset, but is currently used unsustainably. Second, Africa’s youthful population presents a demographic dividend that can drive innovation and entrepreneurship in the bioeconomy. He also addressed the importance of developing regulatory frameworks and stressed the challenges of managing intellectual property at the organizational level and the need to balance biosafety, sustainability, and innovation to ensure technologies are both safe and deployable. Dr. Ben Durham spoke about how South Africa is positioning the bioeconomy as a key lever for national development, aligned with broader continental priorities. He noted a critical distinction between how the Global North and Global South perceive the bioeconomy. While the North often frames it in the context of emissions reduction, for Africa, the bioeconomy is a development pathway based on biomass. A major strength lies in Africa’s indigenous knowledge, rooted in the continent’s deep historical and cultural heritage. He emphasized that indigenous peoples must be the primary beneficiaries of the bioeconomy, not merely
6. For official use only 6 sources of knowledge. While South Africa is advancing Africa’s agenda through its G20 leadership, he stressed the need to also strengthen the African Union and regional institutions and to avoid overreliance on any single platform. He advocated for a diverse, multi-track approach to advancing Africa’s bioeconomy within global frameworks. Prof. Cheikh Mbow offered the perspective of Senegal, whose entry point is the ambition to translate its natural resource wealth into sustainable prosperity. He underscored the importance of bringing back indigenous and traditional practices, advocating for a bottom- up approach to bioeconomy policy and implementation. He posed the question of whether the green economy can complement other investment flows and serve as an additional layer to attract finance. With climate change already impacting the region, he highlighted the role of the bioeconomy as a means to mobilize capital, while also addressing structural barriers, particularly through the use of technology. From Ghana, Dr. Rose Omari explained that while the term “bioeconomy” is not commonly used, its principles are present across several national policies, particularly in agriculture, climate change, and energy. She shared examples from a green economy project and the work of CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research). She emphasized the importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships, including collaborations between academia, the private sector, and banks, citing successful examples that demonstrate how such partnerships can help scale innovation and drive practical outcomes. Prof. Folasade M. Olajuyigbe, representing Nigeria, discussed how the country is aiming to become a regional hub for bioeconomy innovation. Nigeria’s assets include rich biodiversity, a large and skilled population, a vast domestic market, and a strategic geographic location with strong trade connections across Africa. He outlined national initiatives already contributing to the bioeconomy and described efforts to strengthen public-private partnerships (PPPs). However, she acknowledged the need to enhance Nigeria’s research and innovation environment, improve policy frameworks, and boost investor confidence. A key priority, she noted, is bridging the gap between research and commercialization, supported by real examples of effective PPPs. Together, the panelists painted a rich picture of how countries across Africa are approaching the bioeconomy, each with its own context, priorities, and strategies. While their approaches may differ, they converge on a common vision: building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable bioeconomies rooted in Africa’s unique natural, human, and cultural capital. The message from all speakers and participants was clear: Africa has the resources, knowledge, and momentum - now is the time to act.
7. For official use only 7 5. Conclusion (Based on Prof Joachim von Braun’s remarks and key takeaways from the discussions) The workshop demonstrated the emergence of a growing community dedicated to advancing the bioeconomy in the region and across the continent, providing an important foundation for future collaboration. The discussions reinforced the value of developing a clear national, regional, and continental bioeconomy strategy, offering a framework for coherent policies, helping identify synergies and trade-offs, and ensuring that vision and implementation efforts remain aligned and effective. For West Africa, participants emphasized the importance of learning from both regional neighbors and international examples, as highlighted in the IACGB 2024 report. The diverse approaches to bioeconomy strategies globally provided valuable lessons to inform the design of policies tailored to local contexts. It was recommended that stakeholders actively engage in a strategic process focused on sustainability transformation and mutual learning. Such engagement will strengthen the region’s bioeconomy agenda and prepare participants to contribute meaningfully at the next GBS in Ireland. A regional policy brief, developed from a homegrown set of priorities, was identified as a potential initial step toward a coordinated strategy. 6. Actions Three concrete actions were identified during the workshop as key outcomes and next steps to advance bioeconomy development in West Africa, stimulate meaningful dialogue, and help build a strong investment case, all while contributing to the shaping of a unified African Vision ahead of GBS 2026. a) Prepare a policy brief focused on emerging bioeconomy innovations in West Africa. This brief will highlight key trends, success stories, and promising technologies within the region, emphasizing how these innovations contribute to sustainable development goals. The policy brief will serve as a foundational document to inform policymakers, guide strategic decision-making, and support the development of regional bioeconomy strategies aligned with West Africa’s unique context and priorities. b) Develop a comprehensive inventory of bioeconomy initiatives across West Africa, capturing a wide range of activities including ongoing research projects, existing innovations, and indigenous knowledge systems. This inventory will serve as
8. For official use only 8 a valuable resource to map current efforts, identify gaps and opportunities, and promote synergies among stakeholders. By documenting these initiatives, the inventory will help showcase the region’s strengths and unique contributions to the bioeconomy, providing a solid foundation for future strategic planning and collaboration. c) Ensure meaningful West African representation and contributions at GBS 2026 by establishing a continental database of bioeconomy actors and experts. This database will not only support the region’s voice at the summit but also serve as a critical tool for fostering collaboration. By mapping stakeholders across sectors and countries, it will facilitate integrated bioeconomy initiatives within West Africa and across other African regions. This platform will enable knowledge sharing, coordination of efforts, and identification of opportunities for joint projects, ultimately contributing to the development of a cohesive and inclusive African Bioeconomy Vision. 7. Resources • International Advisory Council on Global Bioeconomy https://www.iacgb.net/ • BioInnovate Africa: https://bioinnovate-africa.org/ • GBS 2024 Nairobi: https://gbs2024.org/ • The Bioeconomy Connection in the Kampala CAADP Declaration. Kampala Policy Brief Series, No. 06. (AKADEMIYA2063) https://doi.org/10.54067/kpbs.06 • Advancing the Bioeconomy Finance Hub under the G20 Framework, https://www.dffe.gov.za/sites/default/files/docs/g20ecswg/webinar1bioeconomyinit iative_finance.pdf • IACGB Global Bioeconomy Report (2024): https://www.iacgb.net/lw_resource/datapool/systemfiles/elements/files/52 440fb0-f35d-11ee-9ed1-dead53a91d31/current/document/Global_Bioeconomy_- _April_2024_IACGB.pdf • Policy Innovations and Opportunities for Africa’s Bioeconomy, Malabo Montpellier Panel Report (2022) https://www.mamopanel.org/resources/bioeconomy/reports- and-briefings/natures-solutions-policy-innovations-and-opportuni/ 8. Contact Dr. Katrin Glatzel, Director, Global Strategy and Programs, AKADEMIYA2063 kglatzel@akademiya2063.org