Symobio 2.0: Consolidating Systemic Monitoring and Modelling of the Bioeconomy

SYMOBIO 2.0 is a follow-up project to SYMOBIO, where a monitoring and modeling system for the German bioeconomy was developed. The goal is to establish a regular monitoring of the German bioeconomy, which should provide a comprehensive overview and insights into important aspects, including key drivers and relevant change processes. The system is based on different ecological footprints (material, forest, agricultural, water, climate) which are analyzed under consideration of international trade linkages. SYMOBIO 2.0 will now refine and further develop the results generated in the first phase. This includes:

- updating the indicators / footprints compiled in SYMOBIO

- the consolidation and extension of the data basis

- the strengthening of the monitoring system in the areas of biodiversity, water and climate change.

In addition, relevant stakeholders will be engaged through workshops and the public will be reached through an interactive web tool.

One of the findings from SYMOBIO is the question of which aspects would be covered by a product-related life cycle assessment that are not or not sufficiently covered by the SYMOBIO footprints. The focus of ifeu's tasks in SYMOBIO 2.0 is on this question. The core task is to compare the methods of ecological footprints with those of product life cycles. This is to identify differences and overlaps in order to define a potential role of LCAs in the monitoring system. The findings will be refined and deepened with the help of various case studies. Of particular interest is that in SYMOBIO 2.0 a biodiversity footprint will also be developed. In LCA, the assessment of biodiversity in product life cycles is not standard either. However, ifeu has developed some proposed methods that can be applied here. (Links: Project Flächenrucksäcke, Report Biodiversität in Ökobilanzen)