Bangkok – Asia and the Pacific is at a pivotal moment in advancing a sustainable bioeconomy, as countries seek to balance economic growth, resource efficiency, and climate resilience. Emerging innovations in bio-based industries, from renewable materials to sustainable agriculture and circular economy technologies, are increasingly seen as key drivers of regional competitiveness, environmental sustainability, and the transformation of food systems.
Agrifood systems represent the largest segment of the bioeconomy, making innovations in agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and circular economy solutions central to reshaping food and agricultural practices across the region. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has recognized bioeconomy as a Programme Priority Area under its Strategic Framework 2022–2031, signaling its commitment to promoting innovation, reducing food loss and waste, and fostering sustainable, inclusive growth.
FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, Alue Dohong, emphasized the region’s vast potential in bioeconomy, highlighting the importance of sustainable raw material supply, coherent policies, and cross-sector collaboration among governments, private sector actors, academia, and producers.
The first-ever Bioeconomy Innovations and Investment Forum 2025 (BIIF) convened in Bangkok, drawing nearly 600 participants from governments, embassies, private companies, research institutions, investors, start-ups, and civil society. The three-day event showcased innovative solutions addressing food loss, waste, and unsustainable agrifood systems across crops, livestock, fisheries, and forestry.
Dr. Tatsanee Muangkaew, Deputy Permanent Secretary at Thailand’s Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, highlighted the country’s Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy Model and the Agricultural BCG Model, which aim to increase productivity, standards, and income through sustainable, value-added agriculture as a pathway to building a resilient and sustainable global agricultural sector.
A key feature of the forum was a Business-to-Business Networking Session that connected over 50 industry leaders and start-ups with investors and policymakers to scale successful bioeconomy models. With 56 expert speakers, discussions underscored the need for reliable and eco-friendly sources to advance the region’s bioeconomy. H.E. Faiyaz Murshid Kazi, Ambassador of Bangladesh to Thailand, highlighted the forum’s focus on fostering partnerships across the bioeconomy community.
The forum also explored the establishment of a regional node of the Bioeconomy for Sustainable Transformation (BEST) Partnership, a global multistakeholder platform aimed at scaling bioeconomy solutions for sustainable agrifood systems. BEST is designed to enhance policy coherence, knowledge sharing, and multilateral collaboration, aligned with the G20 Bioeconomy Initiative.
Ambassador Millicent Cruz Paredes of the Philippines emphasized that the forum provides a space for governments, private sector actors, civil society, researchers, and investors to share innovations, strengthen capacities, and forge partnerships. FAO Senior Natural Resources Officer Lev Neretin stressed that coordinated multilateral action is essential to build sustainable and inclusive bioeconomies across the region.
The Bioeconomy Innovations and Investment Forum 2025 is organized by FAO in collaboration with 18 co-organizers and contributors, including UNCTAD, UNEP, UNESCAP, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNCRD, ASEAN, the Embassy of Bangladesh in Thailand, Biotec, and the Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation.
