Blue bioeconomy Rahkonen

2. Research and knowledge
agenda for the blue
bioeconomy
Ministry of agriculture and forestry, Finland
2018
Out of the Blue

3. Contents of the presentation
• Background
• Definition - What is the blue bioeconomy?
• Objectives of the agenda
• Focus areas of research and knowledge
• Conditions for the growth of business
• Implementation and updating of the agenda and promoting dialogue
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4. Background 1/2
• National development plan for the blue bioeconomy 2025 adopted in
November 2016 (in Finnish)
• Effective research and education one of the strategic goals
• Organisations involved in the preparation of the agenda: Natural
Resources Institute Finland Luke, Finnish Environment Institute Syke, VTT
Technical Research Centre of Finland, Academy of Finland, Business
Finland and Gaia Consulting Oy
• Workshops, company interviews, web questionnaire, circulation for comment
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5. Background 2/2
• Agenda adopted in the ministerial working group on the bioeconomy and
clean solutions on 12 June 2018
• Publication
• In Finnish http://julkaisut.valtioneuvosto.fi/handle/10024/160942
• In Swedish http://julkaisut.valtioneuvosto.fi/handle/10024/160943
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6. Definition
National development plan for the blue bioeconomy 2025:
• The blue bioeconomy means business activities and value creation
based on sustainable and smart use of renewable aquatic resources and
expertise associated with it.
• The blue bioeconomy depends on a good status of waters. Achieving
and maintaining this supports the development and marketing of blue
economy products and services.
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7. 7

8. Objectives of the agenda
1. How should we strengthen research and knowledge?
– We must identify the focus areas of research and knowledge that boosts business.
2. How can we push forward the growth of business?
– We must identify the key conditions for growth and means to facilitate change.
3. How can we ensure continuous, target-oriented dialogue?
– Administration, companies, researchers, research funders, education
Successful dialogue is a key condition for successful implementation of the agenda!
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9. Focus areas of research and
knowledge
Think global, act local!
• Six UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs, 2030 Agenda) have been
chosen as the foundation for strengthening research and knowledge.
• SDGs have been viewed from the perspective of business opportunities
based on water and aquatic natural resources, in Finland and
internationally.
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10. Sustainable food production
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09. 04. 19
Long-termprioritiesforresearch
Short-termprioritiesforresearch
UN goal is to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and
promote sustainable primary production. 50% more food will be needed by
2030. The challenge in Finland is the supply and low degree of processing of
domestic fish.
Ensuring the future of
fisheries
Sustainable growth of
aquaculture production
Higher value added for
products and production
Alagal, crustacean and plan
biomass into feed and
protein
Growth of fish resources
Technological
innovations

11. Clean water and sanitation
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09. 04. 19
Long-termprioritiesforresearch
Short-termprioritiesforresearch
UN goal is to ensure access to and sustainable use of clean water and
adequate sanitation for all. By 2030 the need for fresh water increases by
30%. Focus must be on the management of water resources and efficient
use of water. Digitalisation has an increasingly important role.
Water-saving and recycling
technologies and solutions
Comprehensive water
management and supply
solutions
Solutions to problems relating
to medicines, microplastics
and microbes
Water-saving sanitation
solutions
Changes in global
freshwater resources
Removal of hormone
residues

12. Affordable and clean energy
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Long-termprioritiesforresearch
Short-termprioritiesforresearch
UN goal is to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and
modern energy for all. Need for energy is forecast to increase by
45%.
Energy production
technology in marine areas
Technologies based on
thermal energy of water and
sediments
Improving ecological
sustainability of
hydropower
Renewable bioenergy
Anticipating climate change
in hydropower production
Digital dam safety
solutions

13. Healthy and safe aquatic environment
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Long-termprioritiesforresearch
Short-termprioritiesforresearch
UN goal is to conserve the oceans, seas and marine resources and promote their
sustainable use. In Finland the main problem is eutrophication of waters and its impact
on aquatic environment and wildlife.
Cost-effective reduction of
nonpoint source pollution
New technologies in point
source pollution
Cost-effective restoration
methods for water bodies
System-level solution
models – nutrients,
chemicals
Restoration of
contaminated lake and sea
bottoms
Productisation of
ecosystem services, nature
values trading

14. Climate change
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Long-termprioritiesforresearch
Short-termprioritiesforresearch
UN goal is to take urgent action to combat climate change and its
impacts. Rising temperatures impact on waters, oceans and seas
and, further, on nutrient networks, fisheries and livelihoods.
Risk management and
preparation in water supply
and services
Increased winter
precipitation – mitigating
impacts
Impacts of warming waters
on livelihoods
Role of marine areas and
waters in carbon cycle
Systemic impacts of climate
change
Urban areas resilient to
flooding and rising sea level

15. Health and wellbeing
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Long-termprioritiesforresearch
Short-termprioritiesforresearch
UN goal is to ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all
ages. Significant growth potential in tourism, wellbeing and recreation
services based on aquatic environments.
Recreation and tourism
business development
Measuring welfare impacts
of aquatic environments
Opportunities of platform
and sharing economy
Blue care – wellbeing from
natural waters
Productisation of
ecosystem services and
habitat banks
Solutions to minimise
environmental impacts of
tourism

16. Conditions for the growth of business
• Boosting growth of business and achieving genuine change demands
changes in the practices of companies, research, administration and the
whole public sector and third sector and in the collaboration among these.
• During the preparation of the agenda five priorities stood out that create
the foundation needed for the change
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18. Implementation and updating of the
agenda and promoting dialogue
Proposal: main responsibility to the steering group on the blue bioeconomy
led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (2016–2019)
• includes 5 ministries, Academy of Finland, Business Finland, Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, Centre
for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, and Regional Council of Ostrobothnia
 term to be continued
• improving the conditions for the growth of business
 infrastructure, testing platforms, enabling regulation, open datasets, R&D funding, etc.
• developing an operating model to ensure target-oriented dialogue between the public, private and
third sector
 centralised coordinator vs partnership model with regional organisations
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19. Next steps
1) Sounding for the regional partnership model
2) Influencing key strategies and funding sources
• Preparation of the 9th Framework Programme of the EU
• Update of the EU Bioeconomy Strategy
• Foresight work of the EU Standing Committee on Agricultural Research (SCAR)
• European Maritime and Fisheries Fund
1) Ensuring competence
• Active participation in the National Forum for Skills Anticipation (2017-2020) of the
Finnish National Agency for Education
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20. Thank you!
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