ABSTRACT
Chapter 1 introduces the phenomenon of the bioeconomy, primarily through the economic and social context. The introductory theme is embedded in the history of economic thought, where concerns about the exploitation of resources and capital have existed since the beginnings of the science. For centuries, however, they have remained on the periphery of economics. The facts regarding the overshoot of planetary boundaries and unmet social needs in the current economic paradigm prove the need to change the approach to production and consumption. The circular bioeconomy is part of the answer to the above problems. Its importance stems from the assumptions of sustainable development. The second part of the chapter discusses the sources and concept of the bioeconomy and defines the context in which the bioeconomy is understood in this book. The final parts of the chapter deal with the economic and social conditions of the functioning of the bioeconomy, including the potential global risks associated with its unsustainable development in a global sense and its situation in the European Union. The potential of the bioeconomy and the emerging differences between countries are presented. The last part of the chapter deals with the aspect of financing sustainable development with a special focus on the bioeconomy.
