From Fossil Resources to Biomass: A Business and Economics Perspective from edX

Explore how to create a sustainable future by moving away from dependence on fossil to biomass resources for the production of food, chemicals, and energy-carriers. The key is using microorganisms and catalysts to create biobased products. In this course, you will focus on the end of the supply chain - - how to market and sell those products within a profitable business model.

Join the MOOC From Fossil Resources to Biomass: A Business and Economics Perspective if you want to advance your career and get the latest academic knowledge on creating a more sustainable biobased future.

After this course, you will have an improved understanding of other relevant disciplines, and be able to better communicate outside of your own field of expertise in chemistry or technology. You will get a solid foundation of relevant concepts in the biobased economy and biobased products such as:

An introduction to biobased sciences
Achieving sustainability
Consumer behaviour
Business
Logistics and supply chains
Economics and regulations

This course is part of the MicroMasters Program Chemistry and Technology for Sustainability: a series of 3 courses and a final capstone project designed to help you join opportunities and embrace the transition from a fossil-based economy to a biobased economy. It's especially valuable to have (or ambition to have) a career in industries such as: (bio)chemical industry, agrifood water companies, energy producers, logistics, and related (non-)governmental organizations.

Explore the other courses in the MicroMasters Program:

Biorefinery: From Biomass to Building Blocks of Biobased Products; Design new (bio)catalytic conversion routes to use biobased feedstocks to their highest potential
Catalytic Conversions for Biobased Chemicals and Products; Design new (bio)catalytic conversion routes to use biobased feedstocks to their highest potential
Capstone Chemistry and Technology - Final project and exam (only available to learners who have obtained a verified certificate in all other courses of the MicroMasters Program).

What's inside

Learning objectives

Understand the concept and importance of the biobased economy and the value of biobased products;
Assess sustainability issues for a given biobased case;
Decide how to implement a consumer point of view during the development of a biobased product;

Understand commercial, financial and organizational aspects of running a biobased business;
Understand the complexity of logistics of biobased value chains;
Identify and qualitatively assess the major economic implications of different kind of regulations for the future of the biobased economy.

Understand the concept and importance of the biobased economy and the value of biobased products;
Assess sustainability issues for a given biobased case;
Decide how to implement a consumer point of view during the development of a biobased product;
Understand commercial, financial and organizational aspects of running a biobased business;
Understand the complexity of logistics of biobased value chains;
Identify and qualitatively assess the major economic implications of different kind of regulations for the future of the biobased economy.

Syllabus

1: Achieving Sustainability

Delve into the true meaning of sustainability and how sustainability issues are linked to human activities. Biobased products are not always as sustainable as it seems on first glance. You’ll learn that an understanding of the degree of sustainability requires a thorough analysis of a variety of factors and constituents.

2: Consumer Behaviour

Understand the challenges of moving towards a biobased economy and gaining consumer acceptance. How do consumers evaluate products? And how is their perception influenced by communication strategies? Understanding the basics of consumer science will help you to implement the consumers’ view when developing a product.

3: Business

Learn the steps to transform a biobased product to a winning business case. We’ll discuss commercial, financial and organizational aspects and stakeholder management to realize biobased ambitions. You’ll also learn about the required dynamics in and timing of (innovation) activities for a sector transformation to a biobased economy.

4: Logistics

Understand the biobased supply chain including network design and geographical allocation of processing steps answering the key questions where to produce, how to transport and where to process biobased products.

5: Macro-economics and Regulation

Learn the economic basis for government regulations and implications for the biobased economy and in particular the responses by the private sector. This includes the economic foundations for government regulations from different perspectives and the implications for an economic assessment of regulatory policies.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Examines sustainability, which is standard in the biobased industry

Teaches you to create a business plan for a biobased product, which is valuable for entrepeneurs in the biobased economy

Taught by Arnout Fischer, Argyris Kanellopoulos, Justus Wesseler, and Dmytro Krushynskyi, who are recognized experts in biocatalysis and biobased economy

Covers consumer science, which is highly relevant to biobased marketing

Develops macroeconomics and regulation, which are highly relevant to working with stakeholders in the biobased economy

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in From Fossil Resources to Biomass: A Business and Economics Perspective with these activities:

Review Chemistry Concepts

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Review the foundational concepts of chemistry to refresh your understanding and prepare for the course materials.

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Go over your notes or textbooks from previous chemistry courses.
Take practice quizzes or problems to test your understanding.
Consult online resources or videos to clarify any concepts.

Read the book "The Biobased Economy" by Johan Sanders

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Reading the book "The Biobased Economy" by Johan Sanders will provide you with a comprehensive overview of the biobased economy and will help you to understand the challenges and opportunities associated with the transition to a biobased economy.

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Purchase or borrow the book "The Biobased Economy" by Johan Sanders.
Read the book.
Take notes on the key points in the book.

Organize Course Materials and Notes

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Consolidate your course materials, notes, assignments, and quizzes to enhance your learning experience.

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Gather all course-related materials, including lecture notes, slides, and assignments.
Create a system for organizing and storing the materials.
Review and annotate your notes to improve comprehension.

12 other activities

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Review the concepts of sustainability

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Reviewing the basic concepts of sustainability will provide you with a strong foundation for the course and will help you to better understand the material presented in the lectures.

Browse courses on Sustainability

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Read the assigned textbook chapters on sustainability.
Watch the online videos on sustainability.
Take practice quizzes on sustainability.

Compile a list of resources on the biobased economy

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Compiling a list of resources on the biobased economy will help you to organize your notes and will provide you with a valuable reference tool.

Browse courses on Biobased Economy

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Search for resources on the biobased economy.
Save the resources to a central location.
Create a list of the resources.

Practice Solving Catalytic Conversion Problems

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Engage in practice problems to reinforce your understanding of catalytic conversion concepts.

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Find practice problems online or in textbooks.
Attempt to solve the problems on your own.
Check your answers and identify areas for improvement.

Solve Problems on Bioconversion Efficiency

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Enhance your understanding of bioconversion efficiency by solving practice problems.

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Find or create practice problems on bioconversion efficiency.
Attempt to solve the problems independently.
Review and analyze your solutions, identifying areas for improvement.

Follow a tutorial on creating a biobased business plan

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Following a tutorial on creating a biobased business plan will help you to learn the key elements of a successful business plan and will provide you with a framework for developing your own plan.

Browse courses on Business Plan

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Find a tutorial on creating a biobased business plan.
Follow the steps in the tutorial to create your own business plan.
Get feedback on your business plan from a mentor or other experts.

Solve practice problems on biobased product design

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Solving practice problems on biobased product design will help you to develop your problem-solving skills and will give you a better understanding of the design process.

Browse courses on Catalysis

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Find a set of practice problems on biobased product design.
Solve the practice problems.
Check your answers against the answer key.

Develop a Case Study on Biobased Product Sustainability

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Create a case study to analyze the sustainability of a specific biobased product, examining its environmental and economic impact.

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Select a biobased product and research its production process.
Analyze the environmental impact of the product, considering its lifecycle.
Assess the economic viability of the product, including market demand and production costs.
Present your findings in a written report or presentation.

Attend a conference or workshop on the biobased economy

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Attending a conference or workshop on the biobased economy will allow you to connect with other professionals in the field and will give you the opportunity to learn about the latest research and developments.

Browse courses on Biobased Economy

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Find a conference or workshop on the biobased economy.
Register for the conference or workshop.
Attend the conference or workshop.

Write a blog post about the challenges and opportunities of the biobased economy

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Writing a blog post about the challenges and opportunities of the biobased economy will help you to solidify your understanding of the material presented in the course and will allow you to share your knowledge with others.

Browse courses on Biobased Economy

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Research the challenges and opportunities of the biobased economy.
Write a blog post about your findings.
Publish your blog post on a relevant website or blog.

Mentor a student who is interested in learning about the biobased economy

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Mentoring a student who is interested in learning about the biobased economy will help you to reinforce your understanding of the material and will allow you to share your knowledge with others.

Browse courses on Biobased Economy

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Find a student who is interested in learning about the biobased economy.
Meet with the student regularly to discuss their progress.
Provide the student with resources and support.

Attend Industry Conferences on Biobased Technology

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Participate in industry conferences to connect with experts and learn about the latest advancements in biobased technology.

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Identify relevant industry conferences.
Register and attend the conference.
Network with professionals and learn from presentations and discussions.

Contribute to Open-Source Biobased Projects

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Engage in open-source projects related to biobased technology to gain practical experience and contribute to the community.

Browse courses on Open Source

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Identify open-source biobased projects.
Review the project documentation and codebase.
Contribute to the project by submitting bug reports, proposing improvements, or adding new features.

Career center

Learners who complete From Fossil Resources to Biomass: A Business and Economics Perspective will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Biobased Products Manager

Biobased Products Managers are responsible for the development and launch of new biobased products. This can involve working with engineers, designers, and marketers to bring a biobased product to market. This course may be useful in helping you to understand the importance of the consumer point of view during the development of a biobased product, as well as the commercial, financial, and organizational aspects of running a biobased business.

See salaries and explore the career path for Biobased Products Manager

Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for the development and launch of new products. This can involve working with engineers, designers, and marketers to bring a product to market. This course may be useful in helping you to understand the importance of the consumer point of view during the development of a biobased product, as well as the commercial, financial, and organizational aspects of running a biobased business.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Operations Manager

Operations Managers are responsible for the day-to-day operations of a business. This can involve working with employees, equipment, and processes to ensure that the business is running smoothly and efficiently. This course may be useful in helping you to understand the commercial, financial, and organizational aspects of running a biobased business.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Manager

Policy Analyst

Policy Analysts develop and implement policies that affect the public. This can involve working with government agencies, businesses, and advocacy groups to develop and implement policies that promote economic growth, protect the environment, and improve public health. This course may be useful in helping you to understand the economic basis for government regulations and implications for the biobased economy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Policy Analyst

Business Development Manager

Business Development Managers are responsible for developing and implementing strategies for business growth. This can involve working with customers, partners, and investors to identify and develop new business opportunities. This course may be useful in helping you to understand the commercial, financial, and organizational aspects of running a biobased business.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Development Manager

Sustainability Officer

Sustainability Officers develop and implement sustainability strategies for businesses. This can involve working with employees, customers, and suppliers to identify and implement sustainability initiatives. This course may be useful in helping you to understand the concept and importance of the biobased economy, as well as the sustainability issues associated with biobased products.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainability Officer

Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers are responsible for the development and implementation of marketing campaigns. This can involve working with advertising agencies, public relations firms, and social media platforms to create and execute marketing campaigns. This course may be useful in helping you to understand the basics of consumer science and how to implement the consumers’ view when developing a biobased product.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Supply Chain Manager

Supply Chain Managers are responsible for the planning and execution of the supply chain. This can involve working with suppliers, manufacturers, and distributors to ensure that products are delivered to customers on time and at a reasonable cost. This course may be useful in helping you to understand the complexity of logistics of biobased value chains, as well as the commercial, financial, and organizational aspects of running a biobased business.

See salaries and explore the career path for Supply Chain Manager

Regulatory Affairs Manager

Regulatory Affairs Managers ensure that companies comply with government regulations. This can involve working with government agencies, industry associations, and legal counsel to develop and implement compliance programs. This course may be useful in helping you to understand the economic basis for government regulations and implications for the biobased economy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Regulatory Affairs Manager

Corporate Social Responsibility Manager

Corporate Social Responsibility Managers develop and implement corporate social responsibility strategies for businesses. This can involve working with employees, customers, and suppliers to identify and implement CSR initiatives. This course may be useful in helping you to understand the concept and importance of the biobased economy, as well as the sustainability issues associated with biobased products.

See salaries and explore the career path for Corporate Social Responsibility Manager

Bioeconomy Consultant

Bioeconomy Consultants advise businesses on how to operate in a more sustainable way. This can involve assessing a company's current sustainability practices, developing sustainability strategies, and implementing sustainability initiatives. This course may be useful in helping you to understand the concept and importance of the biobased economy, as well as the sustainability issues associated with biobased products.

See salaries and explore the career path for Bioeconomy Consultant

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) are responsible for the overall leadership and direction of a business. This can involve working with the board of directors, senior management, and employees to set the vision and strategy for the business. This course may be useful in helping you to understand the commercial, financial, and organizational aspects of running a biobased business.

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General Manager

General Managers are responsible for the overall management of a business. This can involve working with employees, customers, and suppliers to ensure that the business is successful. This course may be useful in helping you to understand the commercial, financial, and organizational aspects of running a biobased business.

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Sustainability Consultant

A Sustainability Consultant advises businesses on how to operate in a more sustainable way. This can involve assessing a company's current sustainability practices, developing sustainability strategies, and implementing sustainability initiatives. This course may be useful in helping you to understand the concept and importance of the biobased economy, as well as the sustainability issues associated with biobased products.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainability Consultant

Biobased Engineer

As a Biobased Engineer, you will use your knowledge of chemistry and biology to develop and improve biobased products and processes. This course may be useful in helping you to understand the sustainability issues associated with biobased products, as well as the commercial, financial, and organizational aspects of running a biobased business.

See salaries and explore the career path for Biobased Engineer