The Global Bioeconomy Alliance (GBA) convened researchers, industry leaders, and policy specialists at The University of Queensland’s St Lucia campus from 27 to 29 September 2023 for a three-day conference on emerging technologies shaping the global bioeconomy. The event focused on translating scientific advances into practical solutions across energy, materials, agriculture, and resource systems.
The program was structured around six themes central to bio-industrial transformation: decarbonisation, critical minerals, sustainable agriculture, future materials, local food systems, and bioenergy with an emphasis on green hydrogen. Each theme examined its respective technological bottlenecks, pathways to scale, and policy enablers.
Sessions on decarbonisation outlined biological and bio-based strategies to support net-zero transitions within heavy industry and energy systems. Presentations highlighted opportunities for biomass-derived alternatives, improved carbon-capture approaches, and integration of bioprocessing into existing infrastructure. Discussions on critical minerals addressed sustainable extraction and processing methods needed for electrification and renewable technologies, stressing that mineral supply chains must evolve in parallel with energy transitions.
Agriculture-focused panels evaluated how agri-food and agri-energy sectors can increase productivity without degrading ecosystems. Researchers presented data on soil stewardship, crop diversification, and land-use strategies designed to balance food security with rising bioenergy demand. The future materials track showcased biodegradable polymers, bio-based composites, and circular-economy design principles aimed at reducing dependence on fossil-derived materials.
Local and native foods were examined from economic, cultural, and ecological perspectives, with speakers assessing the role of Indigenous knowledge, regional production models, and market development. The bioenergy and green hydrogen theme linked biomass utilisation to emerging fuels, including sustainable aviation fuel, and reviewed commercial readiness across Australian and international contexts.
The speaker roster included figures from major industrial and research institutions, such as Woodside Energy, the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative, Rio Tinto, and CSIRO. Representatives from the alliance’s founding universities—including The University of Queensland, the Technical University of Munich, and São Paulo State University—outlined collaborations spanning biotechnology, engineering, resource recovery, and systems modelling.
Across the three days, the conference underscored the need for integrated, cross-sector solutions. Participants identified consistent priorities: reliable feedstock systems, scalable processing technologies, supportive regulation, and coordinated international research. By aligning scientific capability with industrial application, the event positioned the Global Bioeconomy Alliance as a central platform for advancing sustainable, bio-based innovation.
The discussions reinforced a shared conclusion: the bioeconomy’s potential depends on collaboration across borders, disciplines, and value chains. The conference provided a structured environment for developing that collaboration and defining the next phase of joint research.