Over the past five decades, the extraction of natural resources has tripled, threatening our ability to achieve global climate, biodiversity, and pollution targets, and jeopardizing future economic prosperity. Confronted with this challenge, governments are increasingly recognizing the urgent need to align the current international economic and financial architecture with a more equitable and nature positive trajectory.
This briefing note aims to inform ongoing discussions under the G20 Initiative on Bioeconomy by exploring the role of trade and trade policy cooperation in growing the bioeconomy. In September 2024, under Brazil’s Presidency, G20 participants established ten voluntary and non-binding High-Level Principles on Bioeconomy. In 2025, the operationalization and implementation of these principles has been emphasized as one of the priorities of the South African G20 Presidency.
As a contribution to this discussion, this briefing note examines the trade and bioeconomy interface, including how trade and trade-related policy can promote a sustainable and nature positive bioeconomy, and suggests possible cooperative approaches to be pursued internationally. It was prepared by TESS as an input to the work of NatureFinance in support of the G20 Initiative on Bioeconomy under the South African presidency.
Carolyn Deere Birkbeck is Founder and Executive Director, TESS.
Christophe Bellmann is Head of Policy Analysis and Strategy, TESS.
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Recommended citation: Deere Birkbeck, C. & Bellmann, C. (2025). Growing the bioeconomy through trade and international cooperation. Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs (TESS).
