The model takes into account income generation, health, well-being, the appreciation of Amazonian cultures and traditional knowledge, as well as environmental conservation
The proposal strengthens sociobiodiversity production chains (a system that integrates biological diversity and sociocultural systems) through collaboration between local communities, civil society organizations, the public sector and the private sector – Photo: Cecília Bastos
“Reducing deforestation in the Amazon depends on implementing multi-level governance systems that promote sustainable management practices, balancing environmental benefits and local socio-economic development,” says Vanessa Pinsky, author of the study . Data from the National Institute for Space Research (INPE-2024) indicate that the Brazilian Amazon has lost at least 17% of its forest cover due to illegal logging, agricultural expansion, and forest fires. Tropical forests are essential for regulating the global climate, storing carbon, and mitigating climate change. According to the researcher, the bioeconomy “is emerging as an alternative for the conservation and responsible use of natural resources, as well as contributing to inclusive socio-economic development in the region.”
The research was carried out at USP's Faculty of Economics, Business Administration, Accounting and Actuarial Science (FEA) and is part of Vanessa Pinsky's post-doctoral research, supervised by Professor Jacques Marcovitch. The work involved nineteen interviews with experts from the government, civil society, academia, and the private sector. The results were published in the Revista de Administração Contemporânea , co-authored by Adalberto Val, a senior researcher at the National Institute for Amazonian Research (Inpa).
“The bioeconomy, although it is in its early stages of development and still has a fairly limited literature, faces a major challenge: that of identifying and implementing innovative solutions that are viable in a context of increasingly restricted and constantly scarce natural resources, as well as being immersed in a scenario of rapid and unpredictable change,” says Marcovitch.
According to the study, the governance of public policies in the bioeconomy is a strategic and growing issue in Brazil and abroad. In Brazil, the issue became a priority when the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change created the National Bioeconomy Secretariat in 2024. The initiative led to the formulation of the National Bioeconomy Strategy, which will be the basis for drawing up the National Plan for Bioeconomy Development (PNDBio) in the coming years.
“With the approach of COP 30 – the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference, which will be held in Belém (Pará) in November, the governance of public policies in Amazonian bioeconomy has also become an emerging research topic of great relevance for Brazil,” highlights the researcher.
On the international scene, the concept of bioeconomy began to gain relevance in the early 2000s, driven by a biotechnology agenda adopted by the European Union and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Initially, the approach aimed at a biomass-based economy to transition from fossil fuels in producing energy and materials to bio-based agricultural inputs.
According to the researcher, the study's results should contribute to the construction of the Bioeconomy Plan for the state of Amazonas, which the state government is currently pursuing. As part of this process, the State Secretariat for Economic Development, Technology, and Innovation (Sedecti) and the Foundation for Amazon Sustainability (FAS) signed a Technical Cooperation Agreement (ACT) last February to structure the plan. The agreement provides technical and management support in preparing the plan, including content organization, consultations with stakeholders, and technical advice.
Professor Marcovitch considers his student's studies a significant contribution to the field, enriching both theoretical knowledge and practical applications of this dynamic subject. In her postdoctoral work, Vanessa offers a solid theoretical analysis and clear, practical recommendations for achieving sustainable, long-term results. Vanessa's content is already known to leaders responsible for improving human well-being and conserving nature, based in the federal government, the Brazilian Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), and the states that make up the Amazon biome.
The experimentalist governance model for bioeconomy public policy recommended for the Amazon is based on four pillars: establishment of broad goals and metrics; implementation led by local actors with autonomy to develop solutions; continuous monitoring with expert review of the results; and adjustments to the guidelines and metrics based on practical experience. The model allows for testing and refining strategies before large-scale implementation, making governance more efficient and adaptable to Amazon's realities.
According to the study, an experimentalist governance system is implemented through pilot projects that test sustainable business initiatives and models on a small scale before expanding to other regions. The approach involves multisectoral participation, bringing together governments at different levels (federal, state, and municipal), companies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and traditional communities in the decision-making process. Science and technology are also being used to monitor deforestation by satellite, use artificial intelligence for sustainable management, and apply biotechnology to biodiversity. Innovation and research centers are also set up to develop sustainable solutions.
According to the researchers, implementing a flexible system of governance in public policy requires the adoption of varied institutional arrangements. Peer review, a characteristic of experimentalist governance, is a mechanism that facilitates continuous learning between public and private actors at local, state, and municipal levels. This process involves constant monitoring and consultation between different stakeholders, promoting accountability without relying on a traditional hierarchical structure to formulate rules and procedures.
The model evolves based on successful (or unsuccessful) experiences at the local level, where implementation is often carried out by organized civil society actors. Local actors have the autonomy to implement their solutions according to the circumstances. Still, they must report the results to the higher-level entities (sub-national government) responsible for coordinating public policy.
“Adopting this model can reduce regional inequalities by adapting solutions to local realities and strengthening trust in public policy, promoting greater legitimacy and social participation,” Pinsky concludes.
The research had the financial support of São Paulo State Research Foundation (FAPESP) and Amazonas State Research Foundation (Fapeam), and is part of the FEAUSP Bioeconomy Project research group. The article Experimentalist Governance in Bioeconomy: Insights from the Brazilian Amazon is available online at this link
More information: Vanessa Pinsky, pinskyvanessa@gmail.com, and Jacques Marcovitch, jmarcovi@usp.br
English version: Nexus Traduções