Industrial biotech tackles
global grand challenges
10
IB plays a fundamental role in delivering
solutions for a large majority of the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),
both in the EU and globally
ompanies focusing on industrial
biotechnology (IB) and the
bioeconomy are contributing
towards achieving 11 out of 17 SDGs,
enabling smarter and more efcient
use of precious natural resources,
developing renewable alternatives
to traditional fossil-carbon products,
helping to mitigate the impacts of
climate change, reducing energy
consumption and man-made emissions
to soil, air, and water. These are the main
results of our new report about the
impact of industrial biotech towards
meeting global challenges.
IB uses enzymes and micro-organisms to
make bio-based products in sectors such
as chemicals, bio-based plastics, bio-based
lubricants, bio-based solvents, food and
feed, detergents, paper and pulp, textiles,
as well as bioenergy, such as biofuels and
biogas. It also plays an important role in
bioremediation through water purifcation
and soil recovery. As such, IB is increasingly
recognised by a growing community of
stakeholders as playing an important role in
responding to some of the greatest global
challenges and helping to achieve objectives
under the UN’s SDG framework.
It is now critical for Europe to develop
a more competitive and sustainable
bioeconomy. To this end, the EU’s ‘Horizon
Europe’ proposal will be key to ensuring that
By Joanna Dupont Inglis, EuropaBio
Deputy Secretary General