Bioeconomy for Sustainable Development in Nigeria : Lessons from International Experiences

Introduction: Bioeconomy has gained significant attention in recent years, with countries adopting it to drive their developmental efforts. However, the concept has not been adequately examined and integrated into policy making in Nigeria.Aim: This paper provided an overview of the bioeconomy in terms of motivation, policy framework, and application as a concept for achieving sustainable development. It drew from international experiences in implementing bioeconomy to provide lessons that Nigerian stakeholders can use to develop and implement a comprehensive bioeconomy policy framework to solve environmental and societal challenges.Method: The study was essentially based on a desk review of relevant academic papers with reference to publicly accessible documents from governments and their agencies.Result: The review showed that there is no clear cut definition for bioeconomy, the definitions are evolving and vary depending on the actors, motivation and objectives. However, bioeconomy has become the center of sustainable economic strategies in numerous countries but Nigeria lacks a cohesive bioeconomy policy.The chief motivation for bioeconomy adoption in these countries is to address societal challenges while achieving sustainable economic development. The policies focused on research and innovation, education and training, stakeholders' engagement, technology transfer, commercialization, and market development support.Conclusion: In order to achieve sustainable development, Nigeria must develop and implement a holistic bioeconomy policy cutting across all relevant economic sectors