The Bioeconomy Challenge is a three-year multi-stakeholder Platform intended to translate the 10 High-Level Principles of Bioeconomy into concrete actionable strategies for a sustainable and inclusive global bioeconomy. It is classified as a Plan to Accelerate Solution (PAS).
The Challenge is coordinated by Brazil’s Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MMA) and the COP30 Presidency. NatureFinance acts as the secretariat for the Challenge. It will be officially launched at COP30.
The governance structure is built around a collaborative, multi-actor framework designed to ensure inclusive decision-making and effective coordination. It is composed of three main elements:
By 2028, the Bioeconomy Challenge envisions the emergence of a resilient and inclusive bioeconomy that is embedded in the multilateral system, supported by coherent policy frameworks, measurable sustainability outcomes, and robust financial mechanisms. Ultimately, the initiative seeks to transform principles into practice, turning the bioeconomy into a driver of systemic change for people, nature, and prosperity.
It aims to translate the 10 HLPs into concrete actions by addressing four main gaps:
Each Working Group will be led by two Co-Leads, jointly responsible for guiding strategic direction, fostering collaboration, and achieving objectives timely and effectively. These roles require equal partnership, bringing complementary perspectives to their respective groups. We are in the process of establishing these co-leads, and at present have the following partners:
The appointment of four additional Co-Leads will occur after COP30 to ensure broader engagement and balanced representation.
The Metrics and Indicators Working Group aims to advance the development of a harmonized Global Bioeconomy Monitoring Framework (GBMF) based on a set of core indicators. This work will establish transparent methodologies to quantify decarbonization, biodiversity conservation, and inclusion, helping to avoid greenwashing. The goal is for the GBMF to be piloted and adopted by a growing cohort of countries by 2028.
The Financing Mechanisms Working Group aims to build a robust, inclusive financial architecture by the end of 2028 that mobilizes public and private capital into bioeconomy innovation, enterprise, and infrastructure. The group will focus on designing and scaling innovative mechanisms such as blended finance models, guarantees, and green bonds, and fostering connections between financial institutions and the WG1 metrics.
The Market Development and Trade Working Group aims to expand global markets and value chains for sustainable bioeconomy products/services while reducing trade barriers. Its mandate includes fostering international trade opportunities, enhancing value addition in local production chains, and exploring the adoption of certification and labeling systems that promote sustainable bio-based goods.
The Sociobioeconomy and Community Benefits Working Group centers its efforts on integrating social inclusion, traditional knowledge, and community empowerment into the bioeconomy transition. Key objectives include mapping and profiling at least 100 socio-bioeconomy projects and developing a “Socio-bioeconomy Toolkit” covering benefit-sharing, traditional knowledge protection, and community enterprise models.
The Challenge will implement a roadmap through an international multistakeholder governance structure to advance bioeconomy initiatives within the multilateral agenda by 2028. This process includes three phases:
Organizations interested in contributing to the Bioeconomy Challenge should express their interest by filling out the specified form. Applications will be reviewed to ensure strong alignment and synergy among potential members.
After submission, applications will be reviewed to ensure strong alignment and synergy among potential members.
The basic eligibility criteria is that your organization endorse the 10 Bioeconomy High Level Principles. If your application is accepted, you will join the multi-stakeholder Platform designed to translate the 10 High-Level Principles (HLPs) of Bioeconomy into concrete actionable strategies. As a member, you are expected to commit time to attend meetings and produce specific documentations through a participatory and collaborative manner.
Each participating organization should nominate representatives with senior-level technical or policy expertise relevant to the Working Group’s theme (metrics, financing, markets, or socio-bioeconomy). Members are expected to be mid- to senior-level professionals capable of contributing substantive input, representing and speaking on behalf of their institution’s position, able to align internal stakeholders to achieve timely decisions within their institutions, and committing time to the group’s activities.
Members are expected to commit approximately 5 to 7 hours per month for necessary participation in meetings, preparatory readings, and documentation.
The Bioeconomy Challenge is structured as a multi-stakeholder Platform. It is designed to be participatory and include a diversity of geographies and sectors. Working Groups pursue a balanced mix of expertise and institutional backgrounds—including government, financial institutions, academia, private sector, and civil society— and different geographies, so that outputs are both technically sound and practically applicable.
Yes! Just ensure that the focal point of your organisation has the expertise and enough time to effectively contribute to the work of each group.
The governance of the Challenge is built around a collaborative, multi-actor framework designed to ensure inclusive decision-making and effective coordination.
Members of the Working Groups (WGs)—which serve as the core operational units—are expected to co-develop, test, and begin implementing actionable solutions. The cumulative work of the WGs aims to supply the critical implementation infrastructure—the “connective tissue” of metrics, finance, markets, and social practice—needed to achieve the 10 HLPs and 2030 targets.
Specific expected outputs related to the WGs’ objectives include:
Ultimately, the focus is the implementation of a consolidated “Global Bioeconomy Roadmap”.
