Neoliberal Bio-Economies? The Co-Construction of Markets and Natures
by Kean Birch (Author)

About the Author
Kean Birch is a Senior Associate of the Innovation Policy Lab, University of Toronto, Canada.

About this book
In this book, Kean Birch analyses the co-construction of markets and natures in the emerging bio-economy as a policy response to global environmental change. The bio-economy is an economic system characterized by the use of plants and other biological materials rather than fossil fuels to produce energy, chemicals, and societal goods. Over the last decade or so, numerous countries around the world have developed bio-economy strategies as a potential transition pathway to a low-carbon future. Whether this is achievable or not remains an open question, one which this book seeks to answer. In addressing this question, Kean Birch draws on over ten years of research on the bio-economy around the world, but especially in North America. He examines what kinds of markets and natures are being imagined and constructed in the pursuit of the bio-economy, and problematizes the idea that this is being driven by neoliberalism and the neoliberalization of nature(s).

Table of contents
1 Introduction 1
    Introduction 1
    Our Global Climate Challenge 3
    Low-Carbon Transitions: The Case of the Bio-Economy 5
    Environmental Economic Geographies: Neoliberal Natures? Neoliberal Bio-Economies?  8
    Empirical Material and Outline of the Book 10
    References 12
2 Neoliberal Bio-Economies?  17
    Introduction 17
    Understanding Neoliberalism 20
    Neoliberalizing Nature 23
    Understanding Nature-Economy Relations 27
    The Co-Construction of Markets and Natures 34
    Conclusion 37
    References 38
3 Background to Emerging Bio-Economies 45
    Introduction 45
    Climate Change and Low-Carbon Futures 47
    Bioenergy and Liquid Biofuels 51
    The Emerging Bio-Economy 64
    Conclusion 70
    References 71
4 Bio-Economy Policy Visions 79
    Introduction 79
    Imagined Futures: Policy Visions and Policy Frameworks 81
    Emergent Imaginaries in the Canadian Bio-Economy 84
    Fragmented Policy Frameworks in the Canadian Bio-Economy 93
    Conclusion 99
    References 100
5 Legitimating Bio-Economies 105
    Introduction 105
    Neoliberal Natures and Political-Economic Materialities, or Material Political Economy 107
    A Bioenergy Regime?  110
    Political Materialities of Bio-based Energy: The Case of Ontario 112
    Conclusion 120
    References 121
6 Material Limits to Bio-Economies 127
    Introduction 127
    Neoliberalism, Market Development, and Societal Transitions 129
    Bio-Economy Policy Strategies and Market Development Policies Around the World 132
    Market Development Policies in Advanced Biofuels Market: Canadian Case Study 143
    Conclusion 152
    References 153
7 Co-Constructing Markets and Natures in Bio-Economies 159
    Introduction 159
    Social Natures, Material Markets 161
    The Co-construction of Markets and Natures in the Development of Advanced Biofuels 166
    Conclusion 184
    References 185
8 Conclusions: Alternative Bio-Economies 189
    Introduction 189
    Some Theoretical Implications of My Argument 191
    Alternative Bio-Economies Out There 194
    Conclusions: What Does All This Mean?  197
    References 199
Index 205

Length: 208 pages
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan; 1st ed. 2019 edition (July 4, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9783319914237
ISBN-13: 978-3319914237

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