Life Science and Biotechnology - A strategy for Europe

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. COM (2002) 27 - European Commission (ISBN 92-894-3388-4).

This document aims to initiate activities that may reverse the present problems facing the development of biotechnology in Europe. As it indicates:

'Life sciences and biotechnology are widely recognised to be, after information technology, the next wave of knowledge-based economy, creating new opportunites for our societies and economies. They also raise important policy and societal issues and have given rise to abroad public debate, as confirmed in the comprehensive public consultation carried out by the European Commission during autumn 2001'

The communication, public web comments and results of a Commission stakeholder conference held in September 2001 are available at: ec.europa.eu/biotechnology/index_en.htm.

Based on this and other sources the document goes on to say

'Europe is faced with a major policy choice: either accept a passive and reactive role, and bear the implications of the development of these technologies elswhere, or develop proactive policies to exploit them in a responsible manner, consistent with European values and standards. The longer Europe hesitates, the less realistic this second option will be. The Community is competent on important policy aspects of relevance, and the Commission has therefore a particular responsibility in finding ways forward. The present initiative proposes a framework for this'.

Further details are presented in some 40 pages covering first strategy and then an action plan. Much of what is written is of general interest, indicating the potential for biotechnology and actions to be taken as discussed within the following chapter headings:

Part I A strategy for Europe

The strategic challenges

The potential of life sciences and biotechnology

Harvesting the potential

A key element for responsible policy

Europe in the world - responding to global challenges

Implementation and coherence across policies, sectors and actors

A framework for dialogue and action

Part II Action plan

Harvesting the potential

A key element for responsible policy

Europe in the world - responding to global challenges

Implementation and coherence across policies, sectors and actors.

The document also has significance in terms of renewable biomaterials. The passages quoted above would be of equal validity if directed to development of non-food activities in Europe. As is well known, in terms of implementing commercial systems, Europe lags behind other regions. In the past this has been blamed in part on the cost of raw materials, linked in turn to the effects of the Common Agricultural Policies. However, considerable support for RTD projects was forthcoming, through the series of programmes listed on this site (ECLAIR, AIR, FAIR, QoL5.2). The value of this is recognised by this strategy document. On page 11 it states:

Biotechnology also has the potential to improve non-food uses of crops as sources of industrial feedstocks or new materials such as biodegradable plastics. Plant-based materials can provide both molecular building blocks and more complex molecules for the manufacturing, energy and pharmaceutical industries. Modifications under development include alterations to carbohydrates, oils, fats and proteins, fibre and new polymer production. Under the appropriate economic and fiscal conditions biomass could contribute to alternative energy with both liquid and solid biofuels such as biodiesel and bioethanol as well as to processes such as bio-desulphurisation. Plant genomics also contributes to conventional improvements through the use of marker-assisted breeding.

It remains to be seen how and to what extent such activities are supported under the sixth RTD Framework Programme.