Effect of Available Biomass and Technological Capacities on Bioeconomy Policies: Comparison Beteween Iran and Selected Countries

Access to biomass resources and innovation capacities are important in adopting bioeconomy policies. This study has explored the effect of mentioned parameters on the orientation of the countries with more than 50% of agricultural, forest and aquatic biomass resources as well as innovative countries. Also, the bioeconomy policies of I.R. Iran have been compared with similar countries and some north neighbors. Bioenergy is the main field of bioeconomy considered by all countries based on their biomass resources. Countries with enough biomass and top innovation ranking, increase the leverage of bioeconomy in various areas especially health and marine industries. Development of agricultural biotechnology by conventional methods and technologies is followed in the countries that their rank in innovation is modest or weak. In Iran and similar countries with the limit forest and agricultural lands, the health biotechnology is comparatively dominant area. Biofertilizer and biopestiside application and bioelectricity production using wastes have been considered in "Sixth Five Year Development Plan: 2016-2021"law, but these areas have not yet the acceptable share in Iran's bioeconomy. Achieving to a balance in bioeconomy development needs to identify national demands and priorities, improve the biotechnology capacities in the field of agriculture and the environment, adopt the clear policies and strategies for the use of other resources, especially marine biomass, and strengthen the regional or international cooperation.