How to implement the urban bioeconomy: insights from Leipzig’s current policy mix for transitioning towards a bio-principled city

Abstract

Abstract The bioeconomy is envisioned to play a decisive role in accelerating urban transformations towards greater sustainability and resilience. Integrating biological principles, such as metabolism, ecosystems and cycles, into urban planning and city life, and promoting a so-called “bio-principled city” provides significant potential for shaping more sustainable urban development. However, the future vision of a “bio-principled city” currently reflects more of a programmatic idea than a real political agenda. This study therefore draws attention to the existing policy mix of the city of Leipzig and evaluates in how far it already supports the city’s transformation into a bio-principled city. For this purpose, we developed a proper conceptional framework consolidating different research methods to conduct a comprehensive policy mix analysis. The analysis shows that the current policy framework for a bio-principled city in Leipzig is complex, uncoordinated and lacks in definitive actions. Our analysis offers interested policy makers and scientists an example of how an incidental and thus patchy policy mix can look like in practice. By highlighting its strengths and corresponding limitations, we provide a starting point for deliberate interventions to further promote the vision of a bio-principled city politically and thus realize its implementation.

Keywords

• Bioeconomy
• Urban bioeconomy
• Bio-principled city
• Policy mix
• Sustainability transitions
• Urban transformations