What is Industrial biotechnology?
White biotechnology, also known as industrial biotechnology, refers to the use of microorganisms like bacteria, molds and yeasts to develop sustainable and environment-friendly industrial processes and products. Instead of using conventional chemical methods that are often energy-intensive and produce waste, industrial biotechnology leverages biological processes to provide eco-friendly solutions across various industries like pharmaceuticals, food processing, chemicals and materials manufacturing.
Applications in the Pharmaceutical
One major application of industrial White Biotechnology is in the pharmaceutical industry. Many beneficial drugs can now be produced through fermentation using carefully selected microorganisms. For example, insulin used to treat diabetes is recombinantly produced in labs by genetically engineered bacteria and yeasts. Prior to this, insulin was extracted from the pancreases of cows and pigs in a process that led to waste. Microbial fermentation allows for large-scale, cost-effective and consistent production without harming animals.
Other complex drugs like biological drugs are also seeing increased production using cell culture techniques. Companies like Genentech and Amgen culture mammalian or bacterial cells to express therapeutic proteins like monoclonal antibodies, hormones and lytic enzymes. This represents a more sustainable option compared to previous extraction methods. Overall, industrial biotechnology has greatly helped to meet the huge global demand for medicines in a greener way.
Sustainable Production of Chemicals and Materials
In the chemicals industry, White biotechnology aids the manufacturing of various basic and specialty chemicals through fermentation instead of traditional crude oil-based processes. For example, bio-based succinic acid and 1,3-propanediol are increasingly being produced by microbial fermentation from renewable resources. They serve as building blocks for making plastics, coating resins, solvents and other materials.
The production of polymers and materials is also adopting white biotech methods. Microbes are engineered to synthesize bio-plastics, adhesives and coatings that can replace oil-derived equivalents. Emerging techniques involve culturing bacterial nanocellulose to develop novel biomaterials. All these examples help reduce dependency on petrochemicals and provide environmentally-friendly substitutes.
Application in Food Processing
Food processing is another key area where industrial biotechnology enhances sustainability. Fermentation is a traditional food processing method that allows long-term preservation without excessive use of chemical preservatives. Bacteria and yeasts have long been used to ferment foods like yogurt, cheese, bread, alcoholic beverages and soy products.
Modern advances in controlled fermentation now permit large-scale, consistent production of various specialty food ingredients. For instance, flavoring agents, coloring compounds, food-grade enzymes and food acidulants can all be manufactured through the precision fermentation of selected microbial strains. This displaces chemical synthesis routes that were previously used to produce many additives and ensures clarity in labeling as “natural” ingredients.
White biotech also contributes to developing alternatives to traditional meat production. Startups are exploring ways to culture animal cells in bioreactors to produce clean meat using tissue engineering techniques while avoiding the resource intensity of livestock farming. Similarly, microbial fermentation can provide sustainable routes for production of next-gen plant-based and cell-cultured dairy and egg substitutes. Overall, it offers eco-friendly solutions across the food industry.
Applications in Waste Treatment
Lastly, White biotechnology offers advanced biological waste treatment methods as well. Controlled cultivation of specific microorganisms enables effective degradation of organic pollutants and waste streams from industries. The microbial conversion of biomass waste into value-added products like biogas is another key application. Through exploitation of diverse microbial metabolic pathways, white biotech waste management aids in closing resource loops while preventing environmental contamination.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
While industrial biotechnology presents many promising sustainable solutions, there are also challenges to address. The methods often require sterile fermentation facilities with tight process control, specialized expertise as well as significant R&D investments for strain and process development. The economics also need to be optimized as production costs are initially higher compared to conventional chemical methods.
As the technology advances, costs are expected to reduce further. Governments and industry collaborations will play an important role in scaling up infrastructure, knowledge and skills training. With greater adoption across more industrial sectors and continuous innovations, White biotechnology is poised to have a huge socio-economic and environmental impact globally through responsible biomanufacturing. Its potential to serve as an alternative green technology route offers hope for building a more sustainable future.
*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it.
About Author - Money Singh
Money Singh is a seasoned content writer with over four years of experience in the market research sector. Her expertise spans various industries, including food and beverages, biotechnology, chemicals and materials, defense and aerospace, consumer goods, etc. LinkedIn Profile