China's bioeconomy, centered on biotechnology and biological resources, spans a wide range of sectors including agriculture, food, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, healthcare services, environmental protection, and materials and chemicals. According to projections, the total scale of China's bioeconomy could reach between RMB 38 trillion and RMB 50 trillion by 2035.
Since the beginning of the 21st century, rapid breakthroughs in life sciences and modern biotechnology have continually reshaped the vision for the bioeconomy. In particular, biotechnology has emerged as a powerful tool to address major global challenges such as climate change, food security, energy independence, and environmental sustainability. In recent years, scenarios that once existed only on paper are becoming reality at an accelerating pace. With rapid advancements in innovation, the era of the bioeconomy is quickly approaching.
A global, systemic transformation is now underway-characterized by the valorization of bioresources and industrialization of biotechnologies. There is a growing consensus that biotechnology will shape the future of what we eat, wear, use, and how we build our world. This transformation is expected to drastically reshape material production and lifestyles, giving rise to a new economic form that parallels agricultural, industrial, and digital economies.
A McKinsey & Company report suggests that nearly 60% of physical inputs in the global economy could, in theory, be produced using biotechnology. While realizing the full vision may take time, even partial progress would shift supply and demand dynamics, reshape industrial structures, and influence consumer behavior.
Two Core Dimensions of the Bioeconomy:
- A technology-driven view based on life sciences and innovation.
- A resource-centric view focused on renewable and sustainable biological resources.
Countries such as the U.S., EU member states, Japan, South Korea, Argentina, India, Malaysia, and South Africa have prioritized bioenergy, bio-based environmental protection, and bioinformatics, seeking to leverage their unique advantages to foster rural and economic development, create jobs, enhance global competitiveness, and pursue sustainability through a biotechnology-powered economy.
Since the 11th Five-Year Plan period, China has actively promoted the commercialization of biotechnologies and strongly supported the development of the bioindustry. At that time, the bioindustry was defined to include seven major sectors: biopharmaceuticals, biomedical engineering, bio-agriculture, bioenergy, bio-manufacturing, bio-environmental protection, and bioservices-highlighting the technological innovation, resource utilization, and integration potential of the bioeconomy.
Bioeconomy by the Numbers (as of 2021):
- Biopharmaceuticals: RMB 4 trillion (~19% of the total)
- Bio-agriculture: RMB 9.9 trillion (~47%)
- Bio-manufacturing: RMB 6.9 trillion (~33%)
- "Bio+" sectors: negligible but high-growth potential
Total bioeconomy scale in 2021: RMB 20.8 trillion
Based on conservative, moderate, and optimistic scenarios, the projected scale of China's bioeconomy is as follows:
The optimistic scenario assumes policy-driven acceleration (e.g., carbon neutrality and "Bio+" integration), with bio-manufacturing replacing up to 30–40% of conventional materials. As the "Bio+" economy matures, it is expected to contribute significantly to the overall bioeconomy, cementing its role as a strategic pillar of China's future economic landscape.
