The socio-ecological bioeconomy in Argentina: towards a typology

• The specific characteristics of the socio-ecological bioeconomy include the sustainability-orientation of the enterprises and their entire value chains. • The operation and innovation processes of bioeconomic enterprises denote a strong embeddedness to rural territories. • The different contributions to sustainability outcomes and target markets are effective criteria for generating a typology of bioeconomic enterprises of the socio-ecological approach. Three main bioeconomy models have been distinguished at the international level: the biotechnological, the biomass and the socio-ecological approach. While the first two have been widely studied, research into the third model is still sparse in Argentina. Furthermore, this approach is hardly noticed or even invisible in the public debate. The article focuses on describing the organization and functioning the socio-ecological bioeconomic model. Based on a sample of 34 enterprises of all Argentinean regions, their innovations and contributions to the sustainability of their value chains and of the territory are analyzed. A typology of enterprises is presented, taking into account their sustainability narratives and the type of linkage they create with the market. Results show that the socio-ecological bioeconomy model focuses on an integrated vision of territorial and rural development. Market orientation is a key factor differentiating actors of this approach, leading to different sustainable narratives and development perspectives.