Capturing the Growth Opportunity of the Bioeconomy Across California: Elements of a State Bioeconomy Roadmap

California has enjoyed decades of growth without significant economic planning. The state’s role has mainly been to track this growth, find ways to leverage it for general fund revenues, and regulate it where necessary to ensure clean air and water—all of which it has done exceptionally well. But the time has come to move from reaction and management to action and implementation. This will require California officials to affirmatively map a strategy for the bioeconomy that flows from feedstocks through to consumer purchase, and to overcome real pinch points on implementation, including how to manage biomass to avoid wildfires; support farmers and forest managers to adapt to new regulations; and reduce methane and other greenhouse gas emissions from forest, agricultural, and urban wastes. Additionally, the state needs a proactive strategy to capture the full value chain of the bioeconomy and related industries.