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In response to the COP30 Key Objective 29, UNCTAD was asked to lead the Bioeconomy Challenges Working Group on Market Development.
Following the official launch of the Bioeconomy Challenge on 10 November 2025, this session will launch the Bioeconomy Challenges Working Group on Market Development with the aim to expand global markets and value chains for sustainable bioeconomy products/services while reducing trade barriers via evidence-based policy alignment, market differentiation schemes, and capacity building.
Objectives
- Present the bioeconomy challenge and this working group
- Invite interested stakeholders with relevant capacity to join
Agenda
Moderator
- Ms. Carina Pimenta, Vice-Minister, National Secretary for Bioeconomy, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Brazil
Panelists
- Ms. Noelia Garcia Nebra, Head of Sustainability & Strategic Partnerships, International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
- Ms. Chantal Line Carpentier, Head of the Trade, Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development Branch, UN Trade and Development
- Ms. Luana Maia, CEO, Nature Finance,
- Ms. Liva Kaugure, Officer in the Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment, FAO
- Mr. Eduarda Thurler, Economics and Finance for Nature Manager, WRI
- IADB (tbc)
- Ms. Luz Maria de la Mora, Director of the Division on International Trade and Commodities, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
Carina Pimenta was nominated National Secretary of Bioeconomy, invited by the Minister of Environment, Marina Silva. Carina Pimenta co-founded Conexus in 2018, having previously worked in both the private sector and civil society organizations.
Throughout his career, she developed expertise in green finance, innovative impact financing instruments, market access strategies, development of community businesses and small businesses, entrepreneurship and development of the bioeconomy in areas linked to socio-environmental issues in Brazil, especially in the Amazon.
She holds a degree in Business Administration from EAESP-FGV and a master’s degree in Social Development from the University of Sussex.
Dr. Carpentier, from Quebec, Canada, is Head of Trade, Environment, Climate change, and Sustainable Development Branch of UNCTAD’s Division on International Trade and Commodities (DTIC). Her work with governments and partners foster green, blue, circular, and impact economies that supported by trade, are key to addressing the triple planetary crisis: climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss. She came to Geneva after leading the UNCTAD New York office, representing the SG and coordinating UNCTAD’s support to inter-governmental negotiations of the UN General Assembly (2015-2023).
She held several other positions. At the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, she facilitated the engagement of NGOs, women and youth’s groups, business, local authorities, etc. in the SDGs negotiations and the UN Rio+20 Conference (2011-2015). She also supported the Commission on Sustainable Development research and negotiations on sustainable agriculture and sustainable consumption and production (2007-2011).
Prior to joining the UN, she Headed the North American Free Trade Agreement Commission for Environmental Cooperation’s, Environment, Economy and Trade Division (2000-2007), was Agro-environmental policy analyst for Winrock International (1998-2000) and post-Doctoral fellow/Brazil office manager for the International Food Policy Research Institute (1996-1998).
She has a PhD. in Agro-Environmental Economics from Virginia Tech, as well as a MSc. and BSc. in Agro- Economics from McGill University and is an ironman and ultramarathoner. She is a Yale World Fellow, received the 2023 Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship public intrapreneur award, and is a UNEP Who’s Who of Women and the Environment.
Noelia Garcia Nebra has over 15 years of experience in international sustainability policy, capacity building, and strategic partnership development. Currently serving as Head of Sustainability & Strategic Partnerships at the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), she leads efforts to advance ISO’s contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, addressing key global challenges such as climate change, plastic pollution, and biodiversity loss.
Her career spans roles at ISO and UNCTAD, where she has spearheaded initiatives in gender equality, institutional strengthening, and investment policy. Noelia holds a Master's degree in International Economics from The Graduate Institute, Geneva.
Liva Kaugure is a Natural Resources Officer in the Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment at FAO.
She has ten years of experience specializing in climate change, environmental management, and natural resources. Since joining FAO in 2017, she has coordinated major global and regional initiatives, including the Facility for Action for Climate Empowerment to Achieve Nationally Determined Contributions, and led FAO’s engagement in UNFCCC-mandated processes related to agrifood systems transformation.
Liva’s work bridges policy, project management, and capacity development, fostering collaboration across FAO’s headquarters, regional, and country offices. She holds master’s degrees in Surveying, Planning and Land Management from Aalborg University and in Geography from the University of Latvia. Passionate about climate action and cross-sectoral cooperation, she brings strong expertise in stakeholder coordination, policy integration, and knowledge sharing for sustainable development.
