Toward Sustainable Bioeconomies

New Book by Prof. Philipp Aerni and Ursula Jenal: Rethinking the Bioeconomy Through the Lens of Oikos

The CCRS is pleased to announce the publication of a new book by our Director, Prof. Philipp Aerni and his co-author Ursula Jenal, offering a timely and rigorous contribution to one of the most pressing debates at the intersection of science, economics, and sustainability governance.

The book presents an interdisciplinary, historically grounded analysis of competing visions of the bioeconomy and makes a compelling case for reconciling them through the concept of oikos: responsible yet adaptive economic stewardship under conditions of ecological constraint and uncertainty. Drawing on political economy, economic history, and anthropology, the authors are developing a holistic policy perspective that reframes the bioeconomy not as a narrowly technocratic project, but as a socio-ecological one, one that aligns economic activity with long-term ecological sustainability and social responsibility.

A central theme of the book is the role of biotechnology in sustainable development. Prof. Aerni and Ursula Jenal demonstrate that biotechnological practices have contributed to the responsible use of biological resources long before the molecular biology revolution of the 1970s, situating current innovations within a much longer historical arc. The book examines how New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) and artificial intelligence are being integrated into national and supranational bioeconomy agendas addressing climate change, resource scarcity, and food insecurity. Crucially, it argues that growing confidence in the precautionary use of NGTs is well-founded, given their continuity with classical mutagenesis and the expanding body of biosafety knowledge and practical experience.

Engaging with debates on precaution, innovation, and sustainability, the book surveys enabling policy frameworks that support the safe use of biotechnology in pursuit of the UN Sustainable Development Goals — making it a valuable resource for scholars, policymakers, regulators, and professionals working at the interface of science, technology, and sustainability governance.

The publication reflects the broader mission of CCRS: to foster rigorous, solution-oriented research that bridges academic inquiry and real-world policy challenges. 

The book is available on Amazon and through major academic booksellers.