Bioeconomics opens up great opportunities in transforming the world. What you need to know

Russian President Vladimir Putin made a speech at the Future Technologies Forum calling for the development of bioeconomics. He told us what new opportunities this area opens up and what is the importance of its development, and also set specific tasks for training personnel in this field and its popularization. New discoveries will enable major transformations in energy, medicine, agriculture and industry. What is bioeconomics — in the material of Izvestia.

The topic of the forum was bioeconomics

• The Future Technologies Forum has been held since 2023 and has since become one of the leading discussion platforms dedicated to the development of high-tech technologies in Russia. In previous years, his main topics were quantum technologies, neurobiotechnology, and new materials technologies. In 2026, the business program of the forum is based on bioeconomics and the application of biotechnologies in traditional industries.

• Bioeconomics usually refers to an economic model in which there is a gradual transition from the consumption of fossil resources to the use of renewable biological raw materials. It can be used in a number of areas: in energy generation, food production, materials and chemical compounds. Bioeconomics differs from the green economy in its emphasis on the use of biologically derived raw materials.

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• The national project "Technological support of Bioeconomics" is in operation in Russia. It is aimed at the rational use of biological resources and the use of biotechnologies in economic activities. First of all, it is the development and implementation of new technologies in agriculture, forestry, medicine, veterinary medicine and energy. The aim of the national project is to increase the production of bioeconomics products by 96%, as well as to increase the share of domestic biotechnological products to 55%.

What technologies are discussed on the forum

• The Future Technologies Forum has an exhibition area that demonstrates the achievements of Russian science in the field of biology and related industries. One of the exhibits of the exhibition was a medical scanner for checking the state of health, which is equipped with elements of artificial intelligence. The device not only measures the basic parameters of the body, but also analyzes the condition of the walls of blood vessels and performs diagnostics of the heart, spine and other organs. The scanner speeds up the analysis of the patient's health status and saves doctors time on examining the patient.

• The development of vaccines against pancreatic cancer and small cell carcinoma was also announced at the Future Technologies Forum. They will be based on technologies that have made it possible to create a vaccine against melanoma. In addition, the forum announced the creation of two peptide vaccines for colorectal cancer. Patients are already being selected for their testing based on 400 applications received.

• A bioecoautonomous station was presented at the exhibition. When a low-power nuclear reactor is connected to it, it becomes a tool for exploring hard-to-reach places on the planet. The station has some special functions that create conditions for the creation of life-sustaining products. For example, it contains a plant reproduction accelerator.

What else is bioeconomy capable of?

• Further development of bioeconomics will significantly transform the surrounding reality. First of all, they expect an energy revolution from it — the mass production of bioethanol and biodiesel from plant materials. These new fuels are capable of replacing refined petroleum products, solving the problem of the inevitable depletion of hydrocarbons on Earth. Another promising development is the creation of waste converters into electricity and heat, which is especially important for places where traditional generation is not available.

• Bioeconomics is also aimed at creating alternative materials that have significant advantages over conventional ones. The creation and implementation of bioplastics allows us to begin solving the problem of littering with ordinary plastic, since its improved version will be able to decompose much faster. It is also promising to create fabrics from new plant materials that will be more affordable than cotton, which requires quite a lot of money.

• In addition to preventing the creation of new landfills, bioeconomics also aims to clean up old ones. Breeding special bacteria and enzymes helps to accelerate the decomposition of waste, turning useless and dangerous garbage into a production resource. Biologists are also working on breeding bacteria that can feed on oil and eliminate its spills in the sea.

• Bioeconomics is particularly capable of transforming agriculture. Existing and promising technologies are capable of eliminating soil from the production process and moving on to protein production without the need to develop arable land. This will reduce the burden on the planet and meet the growing nutritional needs of humanity. But even where agriculture continues to rely on soil fertility, it can be radically improved through the introduction of biostimulators and microbial fertilizers.

• Bioeconomics also opens up great opportunities in medicine. In addition to the fact that its technologies help in the creation of vaccines against intractable diseases, it also allows us to hope for the rapid creation of individual human organs and tissues suitable for transplantation.