Navigating the Bioeconomy: Using Delphi-SWOT to Build Robust Strategies for Sustainable Growth

Christina-Ioanna Papadopoulou (), Stavros Kalogiannidis, Efstratios Loizou and Fotios Chatzitheodoridis
Additional contact information
Christina-Ioanna Papadopoulou: Department of Regional Development and Cross-Border Studies, University of Western Macedonia, 50100 Kozani, Greece
Stavros Kalogiannidis: Department of Business Administration, University of Western Macedonia, 51100 Grevena, Greece
Efstratios Loizou: Department of Management Science and Technology, University of Western Macedonia, 50100 Kozani, Greece

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 9, 1-22

Abstract: This study aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Delphi SWOT tool in formulating a bio-economy strategy for an isolated region. The analysis will highlight the management and planning aspects that are essential for assessing the internal and external circumstances of the region. A total of 16 experts were selected to participate in the Delphi method, which was used to investigate the current state of the bio-economy in the agricultural sector of a small isolated region in Greece. Following the convergence of the experts’ opinions, a SWOT analysis and a set of policy recommendations for the formulation of a bioeconomy strategy were derived. The formulation of a bioeconomy strategy in an isolated region reveals a promising landscape full of opportunities, but also full of challenges. The region has a number of intrinsic advantages that can be used to advance the bioeconomy. The focus on an isolated region limits the applicability of the findings to other regions with different socio-economic contexts. In addition, the Delphi method relies on expert opinion, which is inherently subjective. The bioeconomy concept has the potential to address the challenges faced by a small, mountainous, rural region whose economy has historically been based on energy production from lignite. To facilitate a sustainable transition, it is essential to harness the region’s human capital, promote sustainable agricultural practices, develop innovative products and processes, and establish new value chains that can stimulate economic growth.

Keywords: bioeconomy; strategy; Delphi-SWOT tool; triple helix; regional development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/9/4131/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/9/4131/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:9:p:4131-:d:1648467

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().