Towards a regenerative, circular bioeconomy and new forms of production. Case study: Siempremonte Project, province of Córdoba, Argentina

Abstract

Climate change is the biggest environmental challenge that our planet is facing. It is directly linked to high consumption rates of energy and non-renewable materials. Therefore, the conservation of biodiversity, water and soil as critical resources, as well as their relationship with the socio-productive realm, are relevant and urgent issues to be addressed from a strategic and integrated approach. In this framework, bioeconomy emerges as a new production-consumption paradigm, based on sustainable use of natural resources, with the clear goal of reducing the socio-environmental impact of fossil fuels. This research takes as a case study an experience called Siempremonte, whose design and implementation strategies present characteristics of a bio economic, circular and regenerative model. The main objective is to explore current paths of bioeconomy development and the main the main driving factors that a bioeconomic strategy introduces. As a result, it is concluded that government authorities play a crucial role in identifying and supporting in identifying and supporting endogenous hubs of such proposals, which can enhance and/or consolidate innovative processes in productive sectors such as timber construction or land use planning in degraded areas.