Dr Lev Neretin
Environment Team Lead, Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment (OCB), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Circular bioeconomy projects help cities like Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire; home to 6 million people and growing fast. Every day, it produces more than 4,000 tonnes of organic waste.
The municipal authorities have set up a circular bioeconomy project, supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), to improve waste management and create jobs.
Called ‘BioDAF – Bioeconomy in Abidjan’, it trains jobseekers to produce animal feed from black soldier fly larvae, reared on food waste from city markets. The insect frass is used as organic fertiliser. This is one of around 150 projects in bioeconomy, totalling around USD330 million.
Projects transforming urban food systems
Other projects include Pakistan turning banana waste into textiles and Azerbaijan exploring bioenergy from hazelnut shells. FAO also aids countries, including Namibia, Uruguay and Malaysia, in developing bioeconomy strategies.
In Abidjan, the BioDAF black soldier fly project is helping to transform urban food systems and lives. The students will develop biowaste conversion plants throughout the city. Local farmers will receive organic fertiliser at a lower cost. The project reduces waste and pollution, boosts business opportunities, empowers women and greens the city.
Circular bioeconomy could be worth
USD 7.7 trillion by 2030 for food and
feed waste, products and energy.
Circular bioeconomy for sustainable growth
FAO strategically prioritises the bioeconomy, aiming for smarter resource management to feed the growing population with less harm and waste. Around 700 million people faced hunger in 2022, and 2.4 billion people didn’t know where to find their next meal. By 2030, climate change could push another 100 million people into extreme poverty and, by 2050, leave 180 million more facing hunger]
A circular bioeconomy is an ally in the battle against climate change and biodiversity loss. It can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollution in food and agriculture through bio-based fertilisers, pesticides, plastics and renewable building materials.
Importantly, it makes good business sense. According to a report by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and others, shifting to a sustainable, low-carbon, circular bioeconomy could be worth USD 7.7 trillion by 2030 for food and feed waste, products and energy. Bioeconomy projects stimulate innovation, improve livelihoods and create a wide range of green jobs.