Long before the bioeconomy became a topic in policy debates and research agendas, traditional communities were already practising many of its principles, relying on biological resources for food, energy, medicine and construction materials. Many traditional practices are still present today and are built around a deep, practical understanding of what nature can provide. While not all traditional practices per se are sustainable, scalable or emphasise innovation, certain practices demonstrate both, thus offering valuable models for advancing a modern bioeconomy.

What makes the bioeconomy especially powerful – and complex – is its inherently local character. Often countries share different bioeconomic profiles, each with its own specific context, natural resources, practices and traditions that define how a bio-based development trajectory can and should take place. As such, the bioeconomy’s first access points are often locally rooted and should be culturally sensitive and inclusive of traditional systems of knowledge and innovation. At the same time, it should be shaped by global and regional trade and investment dynamics, emerging value chains and the growing demand for bio-based products.

Today’s bioeconomy is largely driven by science and innovation. In the African context, where many countries are still at the early stages of developing their bioeconomy, there is an opportunity to integrate modern science with traditional knowledge. This would not only enrich the diversity of bioeconomic approaches but also encourage co-creation and ownership by rural communities. Often, rural communities have little access to processing, packaging and marketing facilities, and their use of or trade in traditional knowledge products thus largely remains in the informal economy. To develop and scale bioeconomic products, science and scientific infrastructure are often vital. A clear and nimble government strategy is crucial for guiding and accelerating this process.

Instead of replacing traditional knowledge, therefore, modern science and technology must elevate it, complement it and learnfrom it. This can mean scaling tested practices, improving the safety and efficiency of local production methods or using modern research to discover new, sustainable uses for local plants and materials. This holds enormous potential for innovation in product design and business models. For example, in the energy sector, farmers have long known the value of animal waste for fuel. Today, that knowledge underpins modern biogas digesters, turning livestock waste into clean cooking gas and electricity for rural energy access, such as the Kenya Biogas Program and the National Biogas Programme of Ethiopia. These are good examples that could be replicated or scaled up in other countries and contexts.

There can be tensions between the worldviews of science and traditional knowledge. The basis of science lies in systematic observation, empirical evidence and the assumption that natural phenomena have natural causes that can be understood through consistent investigation. Traditional knowledge has similar aspects, but also a more complex foundation, including lived experience, cultural transmission, close interaction with nature, community practices and spiritual beliefs. Where present, such tensions need to be managed carefully to ensure productive and constructive partnerships.

The development of bioeconomy clusters could serve as regionally anchored hubs that integrate biomass production, processing, science and innovation, traditional knowledge and market access. Centred around locally available resources, bioeconomy clusters would connect farmers, fishing communities, agro-industries, research institutions and investors through coordinated value chains. Infrastructure and logistics systems would be supported by research and development, technical training and capacity building. If designed well, the cluster approach would provide much-needed collaboration and coordination, enable commercialisation at scale and create market access, while preserving and leveraging the local, context-specific character of the bioeconomy.

In South Africa, a dedicated model has been developed to support the mainstreaming of Indigenous knowledge-based products. It empowers knowledge holders with direct control over the development and commercialisation of their knowledge. Science plays a supportive role, not only contributing to the refinement and validation of products but also facilitating integration into commercial value chains. Such cluster-based integration could serve as an important step towards a bioeconomy cluster.

According to the World Bioeconomy Forum, the current global value of the bioeconomy is estimated at $4–5 trillion. According to some projections, this may rise to $30 trillion by the end of the decade. As the bioeconomy sector grows, governments and their partners will need to crowd in investment, stimulate innovation and leverage market opportunities, while addressing critical questions around ownership, regulation, equity and sustainability. Clear, forward-looking bioeconomy strategies will be essential to integrate traditional knowledge with science, promoting inclusive business development and sustainable economic growth. An enabling environment must drive this process to:

• prevent exploitation and misappropriation of local knowledge and resources;
• promote benefit-sharing and ethical collaboration, for example through biodiversity credits;
• empower local communities to be co-creators of bio-based innovations;
• build capacity at the community level to engage meaningfully in emerging bioeconomy value chains; and
• encourage scientists to better integrate traditional knowledge in their research.

The promise of the bioeconomy lies not just in green economic growth but also in the possibility of a new development model that is regenerative, inclusive and rooted in local realities. The G20’s bioeconomy principles rightly emphasise traditional knowledge as an integral form with a vital role in sustainable development and ensuring that communities benefit equitably from its application.

For African countries, the path forward does not require choosing between tradition and innovation. Instead, it calls for leveraging the strengths of both to create solutions that are environmentally sound, socially just and economically viable. By honouring traditional knowledge systems while embracing modern science, Africa can shape a bioeconomy that reflects its diverse heritage and secures a sustainable and resilient future.