FP5 - G5MA-CT-2002-00014 BREW - Medium and long-term opportunities and risks of the biotechnological production of bulk chemicals from renewable resources

Contacts
Website: www.chem.uu.nl/brew
Further Information



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Biological Conversion : Biotechnology : Bulk Chemicals : Growth (Competitive and Sustainable Growth) : Process Engineering



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Type of Project	Accompanying Measure
Contract No	G5MA-CT-2002-00014
Start Date	1-3-2003
Duration	28 Months

Abstract

To date, most attention related to biotechnology has been paid to GM food, pharmaceuticals and human genomics. Unperceived by most, biotechnology is about to open new perspectives for the manufacture of chemical bulk materials and chemical intermediates. Potential benefits are the availability of new superior materials, the use of domestic renewable raw materials (stable and secure), ecological benefits (renewable feedstocks and energy efficient processes ) and the evolution of a new technology area offering growth and employment opportunities in various sectors.

On the other hand there are also important risks, among them the reduction of biodiversity, health impacts for humans and the general public perception which can devaluate earlier investments. In ten work packages, the proposed project deals with all major aspects of the biotechnological production of bulk chemicals and chemical intermediates from renewable raw materials in the medium and long term (until 2050).

The objective is to prepare a study about the opportunities and risks of applying biotechnology (including genetic engineering) to produce bulk chemicals and chemical intermediates from renewable raw materials. The study provides an overview of the technical options, their environmental effects, their economics, the risks related to the options, public perception and societal aspects. Both the production of chemicals by fermentation (with or without genetically modified organisms) and the synthesis in agricultural crops are studied. The developments in the next 10-20 years and in the long term (until 2050) are addressed.

The study is being prepared by a multidisciplinary team composed of experts from the chemical industry and from research organisations. It is a joint aim to compile as much quantitative information as possible, which is complemented by qualitative information. Analyses and internal review processes ultimately result in an overall evaluation of the opportunities and risks.

The results of the project are expected to be highly relevant for strategy development both in companies and in policy. Various DGs within the European Commission and other stakeholders are expected to benefit from this project.

The ultimate goal is to provide an overall evaluation or the opportunities and risks. The results of the project are expected to be highly relevant for strategy development both in companies and in policy. Early communication of the results may also contribute to a rational public discussion and it may spur private-public partnerships.

Coordinator

Utrecht University Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Science, Technology and Society, Utrecht, Netherlands Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (FhG-ISI), Departments "Innovation in Biotechnology" and "Environmental Technology and Environmental Economy", Karlsruhe, Germany

Partners

• CERISS (Centro per l'Educazione, la Ricerca, l'Informazione su Scienza e Società), Milan, Italy
• Plant Research International (PRI), Wageningen, Netherlands
• Universidade Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain
• A&F (Agrotechnology and Food Innovations), Wageningen, Netherlands
• BP Chemicals, Hull, United Kingdom
• NatureWorks, Naarden, The Netherlands
• DSM Research BV, Geleen, Netherlands
• DuPont, Bad Homburg, Germany
• Shell International Chemicals BV, Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Uniqema, Wilton/Redcar, United Kingdom

Contacts

Contact

• Martin PATEL / Utrecht University Department of Science, Technology and So / NETHERLANDS