Native biodiversity: a strategic resource to impulse bioeconomy development in Latin America and the Caribbean

BOERI, P.; PIÑUEL, L.; DALZOTTO, D; SHARRY, S.

Agricultural, Forestry and Bioindustry Biotechnology and Biodiscovery

Springer Nature

Año: 2020; p. 163 - 174

Latin America and the Caribbean is one of the regions with the largest endowments of natural capitalin the world due to its great diversity and specific endemisms. For this region, natural resources areusually the basis of its economy. However, the rapid socioeconomic growth of LAC has generatedpressure on natural sources and the continued loss of biodiversity. This region faces new challengesthat allow it to adapt progress in a sustainable way. Thus, it is essential to integrate biodiversity andtraditional and scientific technological knowledge into production processes. The bioeconomyemerges as an alternative to promote the socio economic and environmental development of LAC,which each country must face with a territorial vision. The bioeconomy must be based on a strategywith three fundamental pillars: conservation, knowledge and sustainable use of resources. Thebioeconomy generates adde d value and promotes long term growth in the region, through theproduction of food and medicines, among others obtained from local biodiversity. In this regard, thepossibility of carrying out sustainable development in different territories is extended. Thus, it isnecessary to contribute to greater knowledge of native flora and promote its conservation andsustainable use through scientific research and technology transfer.