Bioeconomy as a strategic direction for sustainable development of the agricultural sector

Aidana Samen, Daniyar Kaldiyarov
Received: 18.09.2024 Revised: 20.03.2025 Accepted: 30.04.2025
Retrieved from Vol. 28, No. 5, 2025 Pages: 129-141
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Abstract

The study aimed to identify the key principles of bioeconomy and their impact on the environmental, economic and social sustainability of the agro-industrial complex. A comprehensive analysis of existing practices of applying Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) strategies and bioeconomy in the agricultural sector, including the study of successful cases and a comparative analysis of the effectiveness of innovative technologies, was conducted. The study determined that the introduction of bioeconomy principles in the agricultural sector significantly contributes to strengthening the sustainability and efficiency of the agricultural sector. Between 2021 and 2024, there was an increase in the area used for sustainable agriculture, from 43 to 47 million hectares, as well as an increase in the share of organic fertilisers in the total, from 5% to 7%. The use of drip irrigation has also increased, from 1.5 to 3 million hectares. At the same time, food losses in the agricultural sector decreased from 16% to 13%, and the efficiency of water use increased from 3.5 to 4 km3 . The development of circular technologies has brought significant results: the share of recycled waste in agricultural production increased from 22% to 30%, and the number of companies using such solutions increased from 90 to 150. The use of biotechnology has also had a positive impact – the share of GM crops has increased from 5% to 9%, and the carbon footprint has been reduced from 5 to 3 million tonnes of CO2 . A study of the successful implementation of ESG approaches in agribusiness, including in Kazakhstan, Germany and the Netherlands, showed a reduction in the use of chemical fertilisers, improved product quality and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. For instance, Olzha Agro reduced the use of agrochemicals by 12% while achieving an 18% increase in yields. EcoMilk has reduced its CO2 emissions by 25% by using biodegradable packaging and installing solar panels. In general, the results of the analysis confirmed the importance of integrating bioeconomic and ESG principles for the sustainable development of the agro-industrial complex and increasing its social significance

Keywords

ecological footprint; precision agriculture; circular economy; biofermentation; ESG strategies

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Samen, A., & Kaldiyarov, D. (2025). Bioeconomy as a strategic direction for sustainable development of the agricultural sector. Scientific Horizons, 28(5), 129-141. https://doi.org/10.48077/scihor5.2025.129