Participatory Planning for the Drafting of a Regional Law on the Bioeconomy

In an increasingly complex global economic scenario, sustainability represents a fundamental compass aimed to guide actions of institutions and individuals. A nondissipative use of Earth’s resources is feasible through a common effort that reconsiders the actual development system according to the key principles of the bioeconomy. It is vital to start from local contexts to reach the global dimension by exploiting the opportunities available in each territory. Starting from these assumptions, the participatory process activated in the Apulia region has represented the first step towards an intervention strategy in the panorama of the bioeconomy, and has made it possible to increase the awareness of a development based on the adoption of bioeconomy models and, therefore, circular economy ones through an effective inclusion process. A process has given rise to a project allowing all involved actors to reflect on the double economy–environment system, to share good practices and promote the adoption of lifestyles and consumption styles more compatible with the principles of the bioeconomy and to elaborate a proposal for a participatory regional law for the bioeconomy in the Apulia region as an expression of the collaboration between different bodies and institutions (universities, Confindustria and the council of the Puglia region).