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Towards More Nuanced Narratives in Bioeconomy Strategies and Policy Documents to Support Knowledge-Driven Sustainability Transitions

Author

Listed:
  • Juliane Stoye

    (Bioeconomy Office Hohenheim, University of Hohenheim, Wollgrasweg 43, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany)

  • Michael P. Schlaile

    (Department of Societal Transition and Agriculture, University of Hohenheim, Schloss Hohenheim 1C, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
    Department of Business Ethics, University of Hohenheim, Wollgrasweg 23, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
    Land Use and Governance, Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Eberswalder Str. 84, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany)

  • Moritz von Cossel

    (Department of Biobased Resources in the Bioeconomy, University of Hohenheim, Fruwirthstr. 23, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany)

  • Stefano Bertacchi

    (IndBiotech Lab, Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano Bicocca, 20126 Milan, Italy)

  • Rita Escórcio

    (ITQB-NOVA—Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal)

  • Bastian Winkler

    (Department of Biobased Resources in the Bioeconomy, University of Hohenheim, Fruwirthstr. 23, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany)

  • Thomas P. Curran

    (School of Biosystems and Food Engineering, Agriculture and Food, University College Dublin, Science Belfield Dublin 4, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland)

  • Laoise Ní Chléirigh

    (Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education, Maynooth University, W23 WK26 Maynooth, Ireland)

  • Máire Nic an Bhaird

    (Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education, Maynooth University, W23 WK26 Maynooth, Ireland)

  • Jan Bazyli Klakla

    (CASE—Center for Social and Economic Research, ul. Zamenhofa 5/1b, 00-165 Warsaw, Poland)

  • Pieter Nachtergaele

    (Research Group STEN, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium)

  • Hailey Ciantar

    (Alumna, Tilburg Law School, Tilburg University, 5037 DE Tilburg, The Netherlands)

  • Philipp Scheurich

    (Bioeconomy Office Hohenheim, University of Hohenheim, Wollgrasweg 43, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
    Department of Biobased Resources in the Bioeconomy, University of Hohenheim, Fruwirthstr. 23, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany)

  • Iris Lewandowski

    (Department of Biobased Resources in the Bioeconomy, University of Hohenheim, Fruwirthstr. 23, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany)

  • Evelyn Reinmuth

    (Bioeconomy Office Hohenheim, University of Hohenheim, Wollgrasweg 43, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
    Department of Biobased Resources in the Bioeconomy, University of Hohenheim, Fruwirthstr. 23, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany)

Abstract

The bioeconomy has been discussed as a key strategy for addressing sustainability challenges, particularly regarding the transition from fossil-based to bio-based systems, in numerous national and supranational strategies and policy documents related to the bioeconomy. However, public understanding of and engagement with the bioeconomy remains limited. This is partly due to the bias of many bioeconomy strategies and policy documents towards technological solutions that tend to overlook the social, normative, and transformative dimensions of systemic change as well as the necessary knowledge. This opinion paper explores the potential of narratives as a means of communicating bioeconomy research in public policy, with the aim of addressing the communication gap between science, policy, and society. When applied in responsible and nuanced ways that acknowledge their embeddedness and context, bioeconomy (policy) narratives can support sensemaking for science communication, improve public understanding, facilitate stakeholder engagement and behavioural change. We argue that such narrative approaches can help to create narrative ‘boundary objects’ that can support more inclusive and participatory processes, enabling the co-creation of transformative knowledge for bioeconomy transitions with stakeholders as active participants. In summary, we highlight several opportunities, as well as limitations and implications, that could inform future work on bioeconomy narratives.

Suggested Citation

  • Juliane Stoye & Michael P. Schlaile & Moritz von Cossel & Stefano Bertacchi & Rita Escórcio & Bastian Winkler & Thomas P. Curran & Laoise Ní Chléirigh & Máire Nic an Bhaird & Jan Bazyli Klakla & Piete, 2025. "Towards More Nuanced Narratives in Bioeconomy Strategies and Policy Documents to Support Knowledge-Driven Sustainability Transitions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-16, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:19:p:8590-:d:1757493
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    References listed on IDEAS

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