"Year of Science 2020/21" on Bioeconomy

2 December 2020

Michael's Contribution to the Dialogue on Bioeconomy


The Initiative "Year of Science 2020/21" by the German Ministry of Education and Research and the forum Science in Dialogue is dedicated to the topic of bioeconomy. Diminishing resources and decreasing usable land along with a growing world population, climate change and a decline in biodiversity - all of these are global challenges. Therefore, the ministry argues that change is necessary: away from an economy based on fossil resources towards a sustainable, bio-based economy - the bioeconomy. Citizens are called upon to actively shape this change in a participatory dialogue with science and research. 

Michael's main points are:

  • Increasing agricultural production for the bioeconomy entails social and ecological risks.
  • The bioeconomy must be thought of holistically and we need to learn from the experience of previous agricultural interventions.
  • Economic goals must be subordinated to ecological and social goals.


Please follow the link to read the original article in German language: