The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), together with the Igarapé Institute -an independent think tank that conducts research, develops solutions and establishes alliances-, produced the report “Reimagining the Bioeconomy for the Amazon” that analyzes the bioeconomy of the eight Amazonian countries, showing opportunities to create sustainable economic alternatives and provides ideas to protect the Amazon rainforest from an eventual ecological tipping point due to deforestation and degradation.

The report confirms that bioeconomy activities in the Amazonian countries adhere to at least five basic principles: i) Use of biological resources and processes; ii) Integration of science, technology and innovation; iii) Inclusion of ancestral and traditional knowledge; iv) Investments aimed at increasing added value by improving processing and supply chain efficiency; and v) Commitment to environmental sustainability, decarbonization and the provision of environmental services, along with the replacement of fossil fuel-based products with more sustainable alternatives.

The report also shows that a more robust and resilient Amazon bioeconomy will require mixed financing, technical assistance, and intersectoral and inter-country collaboration, as well as technology and innovation.