Towards a sustainable and circular blue bioeconomy: A scoping review

Abstract

This study explores biotechnological innovations based on marine resources in the burgeoning blue bioeconomy, aiming to unlock their potential for valorization for sustainable and circular business models. Using a scoping review to identify key trends in scientific knowledge, we specify four clusters of blue biotechnological innovations: (1) bioenergy, (2) feedstock and fertilizers, (3) biomass for food, and (4) industrial applications. These four clusters offer promising energy, food, and materials alternatives while aligning with sustainability and circular economy principles. This study thus fills a gap in extant management research by integrating ocean biodiversity into considerations of sustainable entrepreneurship and investigating valorization options in the blue bioeconomy for the development of novel business models. The findings pave the way for designing feedstock and regenerative business models that harness the blue bioeconomy's economic, environmental, and social benefits.