The World BioEconomy Forum concluded its event in Belém, capital city of Pará State, Brazil this afternoon with a firm declaration on the importance of the bioeconomy in relation to tropical forests. The hybrid event attracted delegates in-person and online from across the globe with the Forum discussions including over 60 bioeconomy stakeholders, including keynote speakers, panellists and experts.
The Forum in Belem was run under its usual four-pillar structure by which it evaluates the status of the circular bioeconomy and facilitates developments of the sector. The four pillars are: The Bioeconomy: People, Planet, Policies; Global leaders and the Financial World; Bioproducts Around Us and Looking to the Future. This four-pillar structure ensures that all relevant stakeholders in the circular bioeconomy have a voice and a platform.
The opening ceremony was attended by the Governor of Pará State, Helder Barbalho who took the opportunity to launch a dedicated biostrategy for the state, the first of its kind in Brazil. “In these three days, Belém was the world capital of Bioeconomy. The Forum was a fantastic opportunity not only for Pará, but also for Brazil. Discussing bioeconomy is not just talking about the future, but above all it is talking about the present. Our forests and the environment need effective action today.
“Here in Pará, we have taken important and concrete steps towards a more sustainable, more inclusive, more humane economy. An economy that creates jobs and opportunities for all, with the forest standing. We implemented, by Decree, a State Bioeconomy strategy. We have created new conservation units, we have launched a credit line aimed at bioeconomic initiatives and we have created a steering committee for the State Climate Policy.
“As governor, I am proud to be able to say that Pará is making its contribution and pointing out the way for us to have a better world.”
Jukka Kantola, Founder of the World BioEconomy Forum, says, “We have been delighted with the response we have got from our Forum delegates during our first event to be held outside of Finland. We brought the bioeconomy world’s finest experts to Belém, both in-person and online, and discussed the major issues, challenges and opportunities we all face as the bioeconomy concept becomes accepted everywhere as a way to create economic opportunities and mitigate climate change.
“It was clear in Belém that there is a huge appetite to create a functioning and working bioeconomy, and the launch of Brazil’s first Biostrategy at the event clearly underlines the Para State’s commitment to commercial and environmental sustainability.”
The final day of the event saw the launch of the Declaration of the World BioEconomy Forum for 2021 which contains statements based on the Four-Pillar structure.
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