An economy based on biomass promises to foster a circular economy and to enhance climate change mitigation, while reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Bioeconomy covers a broad range of sectors, from the agro-food industry and fisheries to bio energies, bio-refineries and bio-chemicals. Despite the technological potentials and the proven applications, it has yet to enter into the public awareness as a promising solution to societal challenges. Technological interventions are not readily accepted and adapted by society. Further, there exists a general lack of information tailored to the general public and there is little awareness of existing bioeconomy products. It is not only the general public and consumers that suffer from a knowledge deficit, but also, knowledge sharing in or between polity, research, education and business is still at a very early stage of development despite some evidence of innovation infrastructures such as innovation centres or educational programs. At the level of universities and higher education institutes, educational programs, courses, departments dealing with bioeconomy are gradually being developed. Still, bioeconomy in school education needs more attention.
As a result of these challenges described above, BLOOM has the following main objectives:
Objective a): Raise awareness and enhance knowledge on bioeconomy
BLOOM conducted 110 outreach activities and reached with that around 88.500 persons. The co-created face to face formats proved to be successful in reaching the specific target groups including the broad public. In reaching the latter it proved very important to implement activities in the public space or in the everyday living environment. However, online formats that were necessary due to the Corona pandemic are not as successful when it comes to reaching out to a broader public. To reach beyond usual target groups, online formats need to be promoted through low threshold social media posts and they must address catchy, sometimes even provoking environment topics, which raise the interest of people with different socio-economic and educational backgrounds.
Objective b): Reduce the fragmentation of awareness strategies and build up and strengthen a bioeconomy community
The BLOOM hub activities started on a small, local level, engaging regional stakeholders. These regional stakeholders were involved in co-creation workshops where they had the possibility to shape and develop awareness raising activities and materials in their own region. These stakeholders became multipliers for outreach activities and contributed to growing networks within their region. Through the interaction across regional hubs these networks got in contact and connected and became part of a European bioeconomy community.
Objective c): Gain a common understanding
The common understanding was central in the co-creation processes within the hubs. In regions where national bioeconomy strategies existed easier agreed on a common understanding based on these documents. However, discussions on values, meaning and aspiration for a region were always important and central before co-creation. The outreach activities then build on the common understanding agreed upon in co-creation.
Objective d): Foster (social) learning and education
Also the second period showed the need for bioeconomy teaching resources and that the BLOOM teachers acted as pioneers promoting bioeconomy teaching for STEM classes in primary and secondary school levels through teacher trainings. Teacher competitions proved to be adequate formats to create further bioeconomy teaching resources. A high number of international teachers were eager to participate which shows the interest beyond European borders. Additionally, the multi stakeholder groups in the regional hubs often chose young people as target group, strengthening informal learning. Creative outreach formats can perfectly be interlinked with educational activities in primary and secondary schools and also with university level.
