From Biodiversity to Bioeconomy: Positioning Africa at the Forefront of Natural Product-Based Sustainability

Africa’s vast biodiversity, spanning forests, mangroves, and coral reefs, hosts over 40,000 plant species, many with medicinal and aromatic properties. Yet, this natural wealth has not translated into economic resilience. While global demand for natural and low-carbon products continues to rise, Africa remains largely an exporter of unprocessed commodities. This editorial explores how the continent can transform its biological endowment into a driver of sustainable, inclusive growth through a bioeconomy grounded in science, standards, and equity. With nearly 80 percent of Africans depending on traditional medicine, bioprospecting and indigenous knowledge offer a powerful basis for sustainable value creation. Examples of Allanblackia stuhlmannii seed oil and Zanzibar’s women-led seaweed farming illustrate how biodiversity-based enterprises can align conservation with competitiveness, linking regenerative practices to fair benefit-sharing and market access. From successful case studies, five pillars were identified for advancing Africa’s bioeconomy, namely, reinforcing science and quality standards at source, securing traceability and fair benefits, aligning finance with biological rhythms, scaling local manufacturing, and strengthening trade diplomacy to build market confidence. Ultimately, Africa’s transition from raw-material supplier to bio-industrial innovator depends on investing in human capital, research, and regional integration. By coupling ethnobotanical heritage with modern science and fair trade, Africa can lead a global shift toward a nature-positive economy—one that restores ecosystems, empowers communities, and redefines biodiversity as a foundation for prosperity rather than a static inheritance.