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Lead your company to make the switch to biobased resources and build a profitable sustainable business. Learn how to deal with the economics and policies governing this transition and the implementation and learn how to measure the outcome.
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“In order to produce food in a sustainable way for an additional 2 billion people by 2050, a business-as-usual approach will not be sufficient. This is especially true in the face of climate change and other forces threatening natural resources like biodiversity, land and water that are essential for food production and agriculture, including forestry and fisheries. To meet these challenges, science and the application of biotechnologies as well as conventional technologies will play a key role.” FAO
Are you responsible for dealing with the economics and policies governing the transition- and implementation of biobased products and resources? Join the MOOC Economics and Policies in a Biobased Economy and discover the whole value chain from Research & Development, over application, processing, retailing and final demand. Learn how the value chain and the rents and their distribution along the chain are affected by policies. Examples such as the benefits and costs of developing, cultivating, and marketing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) will be discussed extensively.
Upgrade your knowledge about the recent trends in the circular economy and in sustainable business. Know how to measure adoption and environmental benefits, learn about the benefits and costs and the distribution of sustainable products, market power, approval processes, supply chain, guiding policies and the current social debate.
Join the MicroMasters Program!
This course is part of the MicroMasters Program Economics and Policies for a Circular Bio-Economy
A series of 3 courses and a final capstone project designed to help you cover the economic and policy side of converting biological resources into biobased products. You will be able to contribute to managerial decision-making, as well as policy development.
Explore the other courses in this MicroMasters Program:
You might also like the MicroMasters Program Business and Operations for a Circular Bio-Economy.
To optimally learn in/from and complete the complete MicroMasters Program we expect you to have a bachelor degree in social sciences (preferably business-, or economics). However, there is no formal entry level requirement for this MOOC.
Module 1: The Circular Bioeconomy and Policies
In this module, you will be introduced to the economic importance of the circular bioeconomy and learn how to recognize the important driving factors.
Module 2: From Precautionary Approach to CBA
How can we measure these driving factors? Let’s learn about cost-benefit analysis (CBA), the precautionary approach, and the irreversibility effect.
Module 3: Macro Modelling
In module 3, you will learn about the key elements of an integrated assessment framework so that you can visualize the impact of a circular bioeconomy on policy aims. We will focus on macroeconomic modelling tools applied to biobased chemicals.
Module 4: Biofuel's Economics and Policies
To conclude the course, we will look at the economic and policy theories in the specific case of biofuels: what are the key differences of a biofuel mandates and price links? Also, you will be asked to integrate the theory seen in this and in the previous modules by applying it to your own case about bioplastics.
''I'd like to specifically thank the lecturer of module 4. I really enjoyed the videos and the way he explains everything. He has been one of the very best lecturers I've seen throughout the MicroMasters, both in his speech/voice tone and his way of teaching. Truly excellent.''
''Understand the macroeconomic impacts and assessment frameworks to evaluate bio-based technologies for the circular economy.''
Professor, Agricultural Economics and Rural Policy Group • Wageningen University & Research
Assistant Professor, Agricultural Economics and Rural Policy Group • Wageningen University & Research
Programme Manager, Food Security and Biobased Economy Themes • Wageningen University & Research
Do you have questions about the MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) and/or related online programmes of Wageningen University & Research? To help you find answers to your questions, we created a list with frequently asked questions about enrolling, participating in- and finishing a MOOC.
Who can take this course?
Unfortunately, learners residing in one or more of the following countries or regions will not be able to register for this course: Iran, Cuba and the Crimea region of Ukraine. While edX has sought licenses from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to offer our courses to learners in these countries and regions, the licenses we have received are not broad enough to allow us to offer this course in all locations. edX truly regrets that U.S. sanctions prevent us from offering all of our courses to everyone, no matter where they live.
Who can take this course?
Unfortunately, learners residing in one or more of the following countries or regions will not be able to register for this course: Iran, Cuba and the Crimea region of Ukraine. While edX has sought licenses from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to offer our courses to learners in these countries and regions, the licenses we have received are not broad enough to allow us to offer this course in all locations. edX truly regrets that U.S. sanctions prevent us from offering all of our courses to everyone, no matter where they live.