Abstract

This article reflects the bioeconomy in the Anthropocene, based on the definition given by Georgescu-Roegen in his book ‘The Entropy Law and the Economic Process’ (1971). He criticised neoliberal economists for ignoring the fact that an ever-increasing use of resources will lead to the exhaustion of the Earth’s capacities. To change the economic practices, he developed a bioeconomies approach linked to degrowth (La Décroissance 1979). Today, it is turned into its opposite as the bioeconomy promises efficient and consistent growth by changing the resource basis from finite and fossil resources to biological ones. The bioeconomy is said to be the economic concept of the future, which can contribute to a ‘good life for all within the planetary boundaries’ (Georgescu-Roegen Nicholas. (1971). The entropy law and the economic process. Harvard University Press and De Gruyter. ISBN 9780674281653) However, with its current orientation towards growth, the bioeconomy is exacerbating ecological and social crises. This article proposes to take the ‘sustainable bioeconomy’ concept seriously, which was first developed by Hans Carl von Carlowitz in his book ‘Sylvicultura oeconomica’ (1713) to prevent this abuse.