Bioenergy Discourse: A Comparison Across Media and Technologies

This study compares the discourse surrounding bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) across two media: social media and academic literature.Through an automated content analysis of Twitter/X posts (n = 11,314) and peer-reviewed articles (n = 140), we identified significant differences in the prevalence of techno-optimism, techno-skepticism, and engagement with critical issues related to socio-environmental impacts and technological uncertainty for these bioproducts.The findings reveal that social media content is generally more optimistic and less critical of these technologies compared to the academic literature, with a notable lack of discussion on the potential social and environmental consequences.Furthermore, our analysis highlights a greater polarization of views in relation to BECCS, with both techno-optimism and techno-skepticism being more prominent across both media.The study emphasizes the importance of effective science communication, balanced evaluations of risks and benefits, and closer collaboration between academia and businesses to foster a more informed and nuanced discourse on disruptive technologies in the bioeconomy.Our findings also emphasize the need for scholars and businesses operating in the biomaterials and bioproducts industry to adopt a critical approach to media literacy.