Course description
From Fossil Resources to Biomass: A Business and Economics Perspective
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.
Upcoming start dates
Suitability - Who should attend?
Prerequisites:
BSc in technology, engineering (and applied) sciences. You should have at least BSc level knowledge on courses and topics such as chemistry, mathematics and process engineering.
Outcome / Qualification etc.
What you'll learn
- 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.
Training Course Content
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'l learn that an understanding of the degree of sustainability requires a thorough analysis of a variety of factors and constituents.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Course delivery details
This course is offered through Wageningen University & Research, a partner institute of EdX.
20-28 hours per week
Expenses
- Verified Track -$149
- Audit Track - Free