Call for Papers

2010 was an exciting year for innovative genomic research with the announcement by Craig Venter that he had successfully created the world’s first synthetic organism. This has enormous potential implications for the bioeconomy and as this innovation moves forward from the laboratory to the market, it will raise many questions that demand the attention of social science researchers.

In addition to Venter’s announcement, the bioeconomy, biofuels and biotechnology have frequently been in the news over the past year. Starting in December 2009, with the Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change, the use of genetically modified (GM) crops for biofuels was suggested as an option for developing countries, triggering intense discussion and debate. In March 2010, at the Bonn Climate Change Conference, GM crops were again on the agenda, this time as the focus of discussion regarding land use. As we head into the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Cancun, Mexico in December 2010, GM crops remain a heated topic with the planned presentation of a petition containing over one million European signatures calling for a moratorium on GM crops.

Clearly, interest in and discussions about the bioeconomy, biofuels and biotechnology (B³) are increasing in importance. The value of applied and theoretical research in relation to B³ topics has never been greater. It is with great enthusiasm that we look forward to the coming developments of 2011 and announce the call for papers for the 15th ICABR Conference.

The International Consortium on Applied Bioeconomy Research (ICABR) holds annual conferences addressing the many challenges of the bioeconomy, biofuels and biotechnology. One of the leading challenges is the growing demand for sustainable food, bioenergy, green chemicals and pharmaceuticals. This will be the major theme of the 2011 ICABR conference.

We welcome theoretical and applied papers in all areas of the bioeconomy and in particular papers on the sustainability of the bioeconomy. We particularly encourage submissions on various aspects of the bioeconomy in the context for developing nations. We also invite authors to submit posters as well as proposals for round table discussions and special sessions on the ICABR 2011 conference theme and topics.

The 2011 ICABR Conference will offer a unique opportunity as it is being held in Rome and will have one day of joint sessions with the European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists’ (EAERE) Conference that runs from June 29 to July 2. The Boards of ICABR and EAERE have worked together to provide new opportunities for delegates wishing to attend both conferences and further information will follow in the coming months

Conference Theme 2011: Sustainability and the Bioeconomy

Conference Topics and Possible Topics for Papers include:

1. Contribution of agricultural biotechnology to biodiversity, green house gas reduction and adaption to global warming

Can we quantify biodiversity and GHG emissions effectively?
What are the impacts of biotechnology on biodiversity?
Indirect land use effects of increased productivity.
Can agricultural biotechnology actually increase yields and reduce land use?
Regulation of the bioeconomy and implications for sustainability.
Contribution of biotechnology to reduce environmental stress in crop production.
Importance of stress resistant crops for sustainable development.

2. Bioenergy, green chemicals, bioplastics and sustainability

Indirect land use effects of bioenergy production.
Climate change and bioenergy production.
Innovations and sustainability of bioenergy.
Bioenergy policies and regulations and implications for sustainability.
Sustainable bioenergy possibilities for developing countries.
Contribution of green chemicals and biofuels to sustainability.

3. Contribution of the bioeconomy to agricultural transformation, poverty reduction and sustainable development

How do policies and regulations of OECD countries affect the adoption of sustainable technologies in poor countries?
Determinants of adoption of improved and new agricultural production. technologies, and sustainable development including poverty reduction.
Benefits and costs bio-safety regulations for developing countries.
Input costs, factor market constraints, access to new technologies, and agriculture development.
Pesticide, chemicals, fertilizers, and GMOs use: challenges, opportunities and constraints to agriculture productivity.
Institutional innovations and policy interventions to facilitate smallholders market participation.
Is there an important role for bioenergy and green chemicals in poor countries?

4. The contribution of the bioeconomy to sustainability in wealthy countries

Size and importance of the bioeconomy in OECD countries.
Sustainable growth and new bioeconomy developments.
Contribution of the bioeconomy to climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Does the “Green Paradox” slow down the growth of a sustainable bioeconomy?
The political economy of environmental and biosafety regulations in OECD countries.
The role of private and public R&D in stimulating sustainable bioeconomy growth.
Intellectual property rights, innovation and the bioeconomy.

Authors are kindly asked to submit a 300 words  abstract electronically as a PDF file attachment before February 1st, 2011.

To submit an electronic copy of the abstract, authors must log in to the conference website: www.economia.uniroma2.it/icabr-conference/2011 . Log in is allowed only if you are a registered website user. Please register as new website user.

The following information should be included in the abstract:
(i) The title of the abstract;
(ii) Name(s) of author(s), with the surname of the presenter in capital letters;
(iii) Institutional affiliation of all authors;
(iv) JEL classification codes; and
(v) Complete postal and e-mail address of the presenter.

Proposal for posters, round tables, and special session should be sent to icabr2011@economia.uniroma2.it  

A scientific committee will evaluate all submitted abstracts and select a limited number of them to be developed into full papers to then be presented at the Conference. Notification of acceptance is expected by March 1st, 2011 and final papers are due by May 15, 2011.

Selected papers of the conference will be published in a special issue of AgBioForum.