What is the Bioeconomy? The Bioeconomy is an economic model that uses renewable biological resources, from sustainably managed forests, agriculture, and waste residues, to produce sustainable materials, chemicals, packaging, and clean energy, replacing fossil fuels with circular, zero-waste alternatives.
The world faces an urgent need to replace fossil fuels and single-use petroleum-derived products with renewable, circular, and carbon-neutral alternatives.
Bioeconomy Sciences and Technology (BEST) at UBC’s Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Stewardship (FES) is Canada’s first and only comprehensive undergraduate program dedicated to the bioeconomy. Operating at the intersection of biological science, advanced engineering, and sustainability policy, you will learn to responsibly harvest biomass and convert it into high-value bioplastics, sustainable aviation fuels, green chemicals, and low-carbon advanced biomaterials. The BEST program aims to prepare graduates to transition to an economy powered by nature, not fossil fuels.
The BEST curriculum bridges science, technology, economics, and policy. Over four years, you develop core scientific fluency in chemistry and biology before mastering bioproduct engineering, circular economics, and carbon life-cycle accounting.
Home of UBC FES, the Forest Sciences Centre (FSC) features over 240,000 square feet of classrooms, study spaces, and faculty research hubs inside a stunning glass-and-timber atrium. FSC also houses the Centre for Advanced Wood Processing (CAWP), a nationally recognized learning facility featuring industrial robotics, precision CNC machinery, digital fabrication equipment, and performance testing suites.
The BioProducts Institute (BPI) is an interdisciplinary research hub uniting several faculties and departments across UBC to innovate and scale renewable biomaterials into viable climate solutions.
The BEST program features a core curriculum focused biological conversion and biorefining, advanced biomaterials and green chemistry, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and market dynamics and policy of the bioeconomy.
As a student in BEST, you will learn from world-renowned professors and faculty who direct national bioeconomy strategies, advise international policy, and create breakthroughs in green biotechnology. Small upper-year class sizes will foster a collaborative environment, allowing students to develop lasting relationships with peers and faculty members committed to climate innovation.
Pair your degree with a Minor in Commerce from UBC’s Sauder School of Business. Master foundational topics in financial accounting, marketing, organizational behavior, and venture development to pitch, finance, and scale clean-tech ventures.
Stand out in a competitive job market with a Certificate in Geomatics for Environmental Management. Develop highly marketable GIS and spatial analysis skills to turn data into actionable insights in environmental consulting, urban planning, conservation, forestry, and natural resources management.
Earn a Master of Management from UBC Sauder and a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources simultaneously in only 4.5 years with the Dual Degree Program.
As a BEST student in the FES Co-operative Education Program, you can integrate up to 5 paid work terms (20 months) into your degree, earning an average of $64,680. Receive resume, cover letter, interview preparation skills, and personalized career development and support.
Work placements span companies, provincial and federal ministries, and research institutions in industries like clean tech, corporate sustainability, and resource management.
There are many courses you can take in Bioeconomy Sciences and Technology. Here are a few you might like.
Examine the flow of forest and agricultural biomass into value chains, global regulatory drivers, and how biological systems replace linear fossil systems.
Explore plant physiology, cell wall architecture, and forest carbon cycling to see how plant structure dictates its utility for bio-based chemicals.
The technology of the systems involved, the social and environmental implications of biomass use for energy systems.
Use of microbiology and enzymology for processing and enhancing value of forest and agro-based bioproducts; saccharification of biomass, fermentation, and product upgrading with biocatalysts.
The bioeconomy is among the fastest-growing industrial sectors in the global transition to Net Zero, with an estimated 1 million new bioeconomy jobs projected across North America and Europe over the next decade. As a BEST graduate, you will be familiar with key facets of the bioeconomy and possess the skills required to work in energy and business, develop renewable biomaterials, and establish environmental policy strategies. You will find work in areas such as:
Job titles for BEST graduates include:
“I wanted something I was passionate and excited about that also had good career opportunities and I think I lucked out with choosing UBC.”
English is the language of instruction at UBC. All prospective students must demonstrate English-language competency prior to admission. There are numerous ways to meet the English Language Admission Standard.
IB Diploma Programme
IB Certificate Courses
Note: Grade 11 Biology, Chemistry and Physics requirements listed above are only relevant to students who are not completing the equivalent IB Diploma Biology, Chemistry and/or Physics courses. For students studying outside of Canada, some examples of courses that may be accepted as Grade 11 equivalents are junior-level courses for American students, and IGCSE and O Level for those following British-patterned curricula.
The following subject categories are particularly relevant for this degree. Consider taking courses in these areas in Grade 11 and Grade 12.
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Visit the Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship website to learn more about Bioeconomy Sciences and Technology.
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