Abstract for: Bioeconomy transitions in Norway

The bioeconomy is an important construct to address major environmental challenges. A transition towards a bioeconomy requires the coordinated effort of multiple actors and has the potential to dramatically transform value chains particularly in the agriculture sector. The pathway towards this transition is both detail and dynamic complex. In this paper, we address this complexity by using a hybrid simulation approach (Brailsford, 2019) that combines system dynamics and agent-based simulations to explore the intended and unintended changes a bioeconomy transition will bring to diary livestock farmers in Norway. The contributions of this paper are twofold. Firstly, it provides practical insights regarding the impact of introducing and promoting new biotechnologies in the industry. Second, it reports on the advantages and drawbacks of using hybrid simulations to model farming systems.