14. Towards an inclusive bioeconomy – capitals of farming communities in Jamaica

New technologies have accelerated the advent of the bioeconomy, making new products from biomass. Such projects must take into account the social components of introducing technologies. In order to have an inclusive biobased economy, an understanding of stakeholders in the value chain is required. Most of all with farming communities as they find themselves at the foundation of the bioeconomy, as producers. How can we build on local strengths to add value by diversifying products of agriculture? In this short paper, we describe our explorative field work in the opportunities for the bioeconomy for the Jamaican sugar cane industry, through capitals of farming communities framework. Our initial investigation suggests relations between the capitals that can be nurtured and strengthened for the normative goal of inclusion. We sketch how the relations between the capitals might have implications for social groups, but also for technological choices. An inclusive bioeconomy is therefore one that nurtures the relations between community capitals.