What is the Circular Bioeconomy Business Development Micro-Certificate?
This Micro-Certificate is a flexible 8-week online program that provides professionals in forestry, agricultural and waste industry a thorough understanding of circular bioeconomy policies and technologies, and how to develop circular bioeconomy business through case studies and assessment strategies.
Why choose the Circular Bioeconomy Business Development Micro-Certificate?
British Columbia (BC) has a culture of consumption and extraction-oriented linear economy system even though it is ahead of most North American jurisdictions in recycling programs. The transition towards a circular economy is considered a key solution for sustainable development. Circular bioeconomy (CB) offers the opportunity to transform our land, forestry, and agriculture systems towards sustainability.
The proposed micro-certificate on Circular Bioeconomy Business Development will provide learners with practical skills to understand bioeconomy concepts, identify opportunities, and develop strategies to achieve success in Circular Bioeconomy Business Development. This program supports the CleanBC roadmap to 2030 by promoting a forest-based bioeconomy. This program also aligns with the first Canadian Bioeconomy Strategy in 2019 by exploring the contribution of innovative biotechnologies and bioprocesses to circular bioeconomy in the Canadian forestry, agricultural and waste industry.
This micro-certificate is designed in consultation with bioeconomy business professionals to give students practical knowledge from the industry and powerful tools for Circular Bioeconomy Business Development that will allow them to work towards bioeconomy innovation in their business section and expand their credentials as CB development managers.
What will you learn?
This 8-week flexible online program provides students with a comprehensive overview of the current CB policies and available technologies in forestry, agricultural and waste industry. Real-world case studies and innovative business assessment strategies will be investigated to support the potential business development in CB. The program provides the participants with the opportunity to understand:
- The CB definitions and development, CB economics and policies nationally and internationally, constraints and opportunities in the CB business sector
- The available biotechnologies and bioprocesses in the global CB sector, the principles of bioeconomy development and the detailed strategies to transform organizations towards bioeconomy
- The development of traditional bioeconomy businesses and emerging types of productions, the successful CB business models in agriculture, forestry and bio-based products, and the real challenges and solutions on bioeconomy business investment and management
- The widely-used calculation strategies for circularity assessment, and the sustainability of Circular Bioeconomy Business Development proposals through CB assessment strategies
Who should apply?
This program is applicable to a wide range of potential applicants who are working in or will go on to work in forestry, agricultural and waste management positions in the private sector, government, non-governmental organizations, industry, and combinations thereof. This program is applicable to those working in BC, across Canada, and in an international context.
Applications are open to professionals and practitioners across all sectors who have demonstrated an interest in and a need to further their understanding of what is the current status on CB policies and technologies, and how to successfully transform and develop CB business proposals in relevant industry sectors with reliable strategies.
Employment Opportunities
- Natural resources (e.g. forestry, agricultural, food, waste management)
- Government departments – municipal, provincial/federal
- Urban planners
- Engineering (e.g., infrastructure, energy, resource management, recycling)
- Manufacturing sector (e.g., innovative materials in bioeconomy business, processing optimization, supply chain, bio-products manufacturing)
- Non-governmental organizations (e.g., bioeconomy, forestry protection, renewable energy, carbon economy, and environmental groups)
- Industry – related to bioeconomy, circularity, natural resource innovation and management, sustainability, low-impact development, carbon credits/performance
