Bioeconomy bright spots, challenges, and key factors going forward: Perceptions of bioeconomy stakeholders

The bioeconomy is a complex system involving a plethora of bio-products and several groups of stakeholders—such as government institutions, industry, environmental organizations, and civil society—across the bioeconomy supply chain. Successful bioeconomy activities hinge on the collective efforts and coordinated development across all involved. This study seeks to understand different stakeholder groups’ perceptions, expectations, needs, issues, goals, and constraints as related to the development of the U.S. bioeconomy, with biochar as a bioproduct of focus. Focus groups were held with a representative sample of stakeholders involved in the bioeconomy. Results show encouraging trends in increased interests and awareness, and carbon market development; while regulatory structure, production capacity and commercialization, and developing industry standards present key areas of challenges. Going forward, large-scale real-world research, commercial viability, and education are perceived to be imperative.