Fee: Students & ECP: $40, General $60
Location: Kansas City Marriott Downtown
Date/Time: Saturday, July 25 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
Lunch Provided
Brief Description of Topic: The challenges we face today—such as resource depletion, environmental degradation, and climate change—urge us to adopt a new mindset. The traditional "take-make-dispose" model is no longer viable; it's time for a more sustainable approach that aligns with natural systems. This is where the circular bioeconomy comes into play. It's an innovative concept that promotes the sustainable utilization of biological resources, reduces waste, and keeps valuable materials in circulation, effectively separating economic progress from environmental harm. This idea is not merely theoretical; it offers practical solutions for creating a resilient, sustainable, and equitable future. The proposed pre-conference workshop aims to provide participants with tools to implement these ideas effectively.
Relevance to AAEA Members/Meeting Attendees: The primary objective of the one-day workshop is to advance understanding and identify pathways for building a climate-smart, sustainable future through the circular bioeconomy. As an engaging platform, the workshop will feature insights from a diverse panel of soil scientists, engineers, agricultural economists, and policymakers. Participants will learn from tangible examples, such as reduced tillage in agriculture and the conversion of wood waste into bioenergy. The agenda also includes exploring emerging trends such as biorefineries and advanced biomaterials, and discussing scaling these solutions. Organized by the Circular Bioeconomy System Institute (CBSI) and the Council on Food, Agricultural, and Resource Economics (C-FARE), the workshop aims to unite AAEA members, federal and state employees, and related professionals to identify information gaps, define research paths, and discuss the crucial role of policy.
The goal of this one-day workshop is to understand better the circular bioeconomy and its effects on the economy and the environment, engage with economists and engineers, and gain a new perspective. The participants will use the insights developed in this workshop to identify research gaps, challenges, and opportunities.
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 8:30 to 8:40 |
Introductory remarks
|
| 8:40 to 9:15 |
Introduction to the Circular Bioeconomy: From the Valorization of
|
| 9:15 to 9:30 | Coffee break |
| 9:30 to 11:00 |
Panel Session I: Valorization of waste and pollution 4 speakers (15 minutes, each), followed with discussion Speakers:
|
| 11:00 to 12:30 |
Keynote speaker Lunch
|
| 12:30 to 2:00 |
Panel Session II: Drivers of bio-products and the future of bioenergy 4 speakers (15 minutes, each), followed with discussion Speakers:
|
| 2:00 to 2:15 | Coffee break |
| 2:15 to 3:45 |
Panel Session III: Obstacles and opportunities for policy response, 4 speakers (15 minutes, each), followed with discussion Speakers:
|
| 3:45 to 4:45 | Breakout session: summary of key findings and paths forward |
| 4:45 to 5:00 |
Reporting Back: Breakout groups report their key findings to the rest of |
| 5:00 to 5:15 | Wrap-up and next steps |
| 5:15 to 6:00 | Networking reception |