Publications - Belgium Industrial Biotechnology and Sustainable Chemistry

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Biotechnology : National Activities - Belgium

BACAS Report	Industrial Biotechnology
	Executive Summary
	Introduction
	Conclusion

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Executive Summary

At present, a third wave of biotechnology - industrial biotechnology - is strongly developing. This industrial biotechnology (also referred to as white biotechnology) stands apart from the red biotechnology (directed towards health care) and green biotechnology (genetically modified crops). Industrial biotechnology uses biological systems for the production of useful chemical entities. This technology is mainly based on biocatalysis (the use of enzymes and cells to catalyse chemical reactions) and fermentation technology (directed use ot micro-organisms), in combination with recent breakthroughs in the forefront of molecular genetics and metabolic engineering.

This new technology has developed into a main contributor to the so-called green chemistry , in which renewable resources such as sugars or vegetable oils are converted into a wide variety of chemical substances such as fine and bulk chemicals, pharmaceuticals, bio-colorants, solvents, bio-plastics, vitamins, food additives, bio-pesticides and bio-fuels such as bio-ethanol and bio-diesel.

The application of industrial biotechnology offers significant ecological advantages. Agricultural crops are the preferentially used starting raw materials, instead at using fossil resources such as crude oil and gas. This technology consequently has a beneficial effect on greenhouse gas emissions and at the same time supports the agricultural sector producing these raw materials. Moreover, industrial biotechnology frequently shows significant performance benefits compared to conventional chemical technology, such as a higher reaction rate, increased conversion efficiency, improved product purity, lowered energy consumption and significant decrease in chemical waste generation. The combination of these factors has led to the recent strong penetration of industrial biotechnology in all sectors of the chemical industry, particularly in fine chemicals but equally so for bulk chemicals such as plastics and fuels. At present, the penetration of biotechnological production processes in the chemical industry is estimated at 5%, and is expected to increase to 10-20% by the year 2010.

This strong development is now mainly driven by the laws of market economy in view at the higher efficiencies obtained by biotechnological production processes. In the future, a number of societal and technological changes are expected to reinforce this trend even further, such as the depletion of crude oil reserves, the increased demand of a growing world population for raw materials and energy, the demand for sustainability and efficiency in chemical production systems and the changes in the European agricultural policy.

The development of industrial biotechnology is of immediate interest to the economically important Belgian chemical industry and agro-industry. Out of the collaboration of these two industries, entirely new chemical activities can be created, as has already been demonstrated abroad. Also, industrial biotechnology may contribute significantly to the future of European agriculture, and as such is very relevant for the sustainable development of our society.

In view of the strategic importance of industrial biotechnology for the future of Belgium and the lack of a consistent policy in this area the BACAS working group has formulated a number of recommendations directed towards government and industry. In particular, more Research and Development effort is needed in this domain, by specific research programmes both on a national and European level. The BACAS working group further recommends a number of political and fiscal measures, in which the de-taxation of biofuels is particularly urgent, when comparing the lack of initiative of the Belgian government contrary to its neighbouring countries. Also, efforts to increase the public's awareness about industrial biotechnology are needed, with the added benefit that this is likely to improve the public's perception of biotechnology as a whole, in view of the clear link between industrial biotechnology and the sustainable development of our society.

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Introduction

Sustainability is meeting the needs of the present necessary correct, these new developments, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. No one disputes this "Brundtland" definition of sustainable development and the trend in all sectors of society goes clearly in this direction. In view at the growing importance of sustainable production and doing business with respect for nature and future generations, this principle is increasingly employed in the various sectors of agriculture, industry and services.

Within the framework of sustainable development, more attention has recently been given to the importance of biotechnology and the use of renewable raw materials for chemical production as well as energy production. The use of biotechnology and renewable raw materials as an alternative for conventional chemistry based on fossil resources is only one aspect within the broad concept of sustainable chemistry, in which the numerous interactions between the ecosphere (nature as the supplier of raw materials and energy). technosphere (production and processing) and the sociosphere (use and consumer behaviour) come into play.

Conventional chemical production sectors should give more attention to this "green chemistry". As a result of the greenhouse effect, depleting reserves of fossil resources, the implementation of clean technologies and the desired biodegradability of industrial products, many sectors within the chemical industry are seeing the benefits of using renewable raw materials for non-food applications.

Sustainability is also imperative for our energy supply. The European Union has set its objective of obtaining 14% of our enemy supply from sustainable sources by 2010. Up to now, these energy sources cover only 5.8 % of the total energy consumption in the EU. This illustrates that also the energy sector will see important changes in the near future.

Biotechnology will play an increasingly important role in the development of sustainable (green) chemistry and bio-energy production. In this respect, one refers to "industrial biotechnology". This scientific field deals mainly with the use of micro-organisms such as yeast, fungi, bacteria, or their enzymes to produce useful chemical products and materials.

It is the task of scientists and technologists to be critical and to contribute to correct scientific, technological and social developments in this area. The task of the BACAS working group has been to discuss and report the state of the art of industrial biotechnology and to demonstrate its impact on a broad range of industrial applications. In addition to that, the vision of the experts in the different fields had to be integrated into< policy recommendations in order to stimulate, and if necessary correct, these new developments

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Conclusions

Industrial biotechnology can synthesise a broad range of chemical substances, usually by using useful micro-organisms and their enzymes. The recent wave of new applications seems to indicate that only the tip of the iceberg has been touched. The microbiologist Jackson Foster already predicted in 1964: Never underestimate the power ol the microbe" and has been proven right so far.

This technology, already strongly developed in conventional domains of the food and health care industry, now also strongly penetrates the chemical industry with applications in fine and bulk chemistry, polymer synthesis, pharmaceutical industry and the energy sector. As these processes and products are largely based on renewable raw materials and possess substantial ecological benefits, this provides them with a major advantage in the perspective of sustainable development.

Science, industry and policy people alike should give more attention to this green chemistry and its bioproducts. Successful innovation by a biotechnological product or process is never solely defined by technology and science but equally by other factors such as acceptance by the general public, the innovation climate and support by the authorities through a consistent Research and Development policy.

BACAS hopes that this document may serve as a real eye-opener for its readers and that the groups targeted in our recommendations will be motivated to take appropriate action, in order to stimulate the development of this discipline.