• Understand the concept and importance of the biobased economy and the value of biobased products;
• Assess sustainability issues for a given biobased case;
• Decide how to implement a consumer point of view during the development of a biobased product;
• Understand commercial, financial and organizational aspects of running a biobased business;
• Understand the complexity of logistics of biobased value chains;
• Identify and qualitatively assess the major economic implications of different kind of regulations for the future of the biobased economy.

1: Achieving Sustainability

Delve into the true meaning of sustainability and how sustainability issues are linked to human activities. Biobased products are not always as sustainable as it seems on first glance. You’ll learn that an understanding of the degree of sustainability requires a thorough analysis of a variety of factors and constituents.

2: Consumer Behaviour

Understand the challenges of moving towards a biobased economy and gaining consumer acceptance. How do consumers evaluate products? And how is their perception influenced by communication strategies? Understanding the basics of consumer science will help you to implement the consumers’ view when developing a product.

3: Business

Learn the steps to transform a biobased product to a winning business case. We’ll discuss commercial, financial and organizational aspects and stakeholder management to realize biobased ambitions. You’ll also learn about the required dynamics in and timing of (innovation) activities for a sector transformation to a biobased economy.

4: Logistics

Understand the biobased supply chain including network design and geographical allocation of processing steps answering the key questions where to produce, how to transport and where to process biobased products.

5: Macro-economics and Regulation

Learn the economic basis for government regulations and implications for the biobased economy and in particular the responses by the private sector. This includes the economic foundations for government regulations from different perspectives and the implications for an economic assessment of regulatory policies.

"Courses about the biobased economy and biorefinery at Wageningen University triggered me to specialise in this field, where I now also work. Truly a life-changing experience!"

''Very well designed course; worthy experts' guidance; being mindful of the importance of practical aspect of learning, the course should be very helpful for utilizing the knowledge gained in real life.''

''Overall I really have the feeling I learned a lot and the total fourse has given me more insight into the evolving biobased economy''