Evaluation of bioeconomic practices within structural changes using picture fuzzy decision-making model

Abstract

This study examines the impacts of the bioeconomy transition from a multidimensional perspective. As a growing response to sustainability challenges, the bioeconomy is driving dynamic structural changes in both the economy and society. This transition holds significant potential for job creation, integration with circular economic systems, and the revitalization of rural areas. Given that the transformative effects of emerging bioeconomic practices vary in scale and scope, their evaluation in the context of bioeconomic growth is essential for analyzing their efficiency and feasibility. The evaluation process should have a multidimensional approach, addressing technical and social factors, economic considerations, environmental expectations, and regulatory constraints. Taking complex nature of assessment problem into account, this study introduces a multi-criteria decision-making analysis (MCDA) framework to formulate evaluation of different alternatives under uncertain constraints setting. A hybrid combination of three different MCDA methods and new divergence measure for picture fuzzy sets are developed to estimate objective weights of criteria in assessing the trends concerning their multidimensional impacts. The framework is applied to the case of Türkiye, a country with substantial bioeconomic growth potential. A structured survey is conducted to assess current bioeconomy trends. Three biotechnological alternatives are evaluated against fourteen criteria, categorized into four dimensions: technological, economic, environmental, and social. The findings indicate that the use of biotechnology for enzyme production receives the highest prioritization across these dimensions, highlighting its strategic importance in advancing bioeconomic growth. While the case study of Türkiye demonstrates the model’s implementation and effectiveness, the analysis is further extended to offer policy recommendations—such as establishing a robust institutional framework that enhances local governance capacities.