BIOCOSPHERE

Disciplines: Economics, Sociology, and Politics
Lead institution: Bordeaux School of Economics (BSE)
Partners: Sciences Po Bordeaux, CNRS, INRAE
Project leader: Maïder SAINT JEAN, Assistant Professor in Economics
Project duration: 36 months (2025-2028)

Project objective: To understand the trajectories of the circular bioeconomy

Summary:
One of the aims of the circular bioeconomy is to replace fossil resources with plant biomass. However, this transition is far from simple: limited availability of biomass, conflicts of use (energy, materials, bio-based products), high costs of green technologies, regulatory uncertainties, and tensions between competing visions of “green chemistry.” Furthermore, as with mineral resources, biomass can become “critical” depending on physical, economic, or political conditions.

The BIOCOSPHERE project explores these issues by analyzing how political, economic, social, and biophysical dimensions interact in the construction of the circular bioeconomy. Its objectives are as follows:

• to identify the factors that influence the availability and use of biomass (technical, financial, regulatory, cognitive, and socio-political);
• to study the controversies and promises associated with emerging technologies;
• to develop an innovative simulation model (AB-SFC) to understand the interactions between economic, environmental, and social systems in this transition.

BIOCOSPHERE is closely linked to the MALIGNE project, which focuses on lignin as a key resource for producing high-value bio-based molecules. This collaboration makes it possible to integrate data, the visions of chemistry researchers, and the social and cultural dimensions of innovation.

By combining social sciences, economic modeling, and technology analysis, BIOCOSPHERE ultimately aims to provide public decision-makers and innovation stakeholders with a comprehensive understanding of the opportunities and risks associated with the development of the circular bioeconomy.