The bioeconomy offers solutions to the most pressing challenges facing humanity, and effective policies have propelled groundbreaking technologies from the laboratory to widespread societal use. As tools evolve to more reliably harness biology for commercial applications, policy will continue to play a central role in ensuring that innovation delivers a human-centred and resilient bio-based economy.

This paper spotlights pivotal policy interventions across three key areas of bio-innovation: human health; energy and chemicals; and food and agricultural systems. These past successes – where timely and supportive policies have saved lives and improved environmental outcomes in commercial practices – show how policy frameworks can spur bio-innovation to deliver viable commercial models that prioritize people and the planet.