White biotechnology (2006)
The laboratory for Industrial Microbiology and Biocatalysis of the University Ghent, in collaboration with viWTA, has written a dossier ‘White biotechnology: a state of affairs’. The dossier gives an overview of the application areas and the social aspects of the industrial biotechnology. The dossier has been put together on the basis of a literature search and interviews with a series of experts.
White or industrial biotechnology refers to the use, on an industrial scale, of micro-organisms, for the production of chemical substances. Genetically modified bacteria, yeasts and moulds for instance can produce vitamins, sweeteners, antibiotics, bioplastics, or biofuels. They can contribute substantially to the industrial production of food, textile, detergent and paper too. Moreover, micro-organisms use non-fossil raw material, such as agricultural products and biomass.
An economy able to run partially on biomass, becomes less dependent from oil reserves. But which opportunities does this development offer Flanders to evolve towards a bio-based society? How environmentally friendly is white biotechnology? And which shifts can this evolution bring about within our Flemish economy? viWTA asked these questions to thirty Flemish experts. From their answers, it appeared that biotechnological processes often consume less energy and produce less waste, when compared to the conventional chemical production methods. Nevertheless, we have to wait for a complete life cycle analysis before being able to assess the sustainability of the biotechnological process as a whole. A second conclusion would be that the industrial biotechnology holds a very big growth potential for the energy sector. Moreover, encouraging the production of biofuels can bring about big shifts in the Flemish agricultural sector.
On Thursday 9 November 2006, at 12 a.m., viWTA presented the results of the interviews in the auditorium De Schelp of the Flemish Parliament. During the lunch debate, the most striking conclusions were discussed by members of the expert panel: Bram Claeys (Bond Beter Leefmilieu), François Huyghe (Boerenbond), Prof. Johan Thevelein (KULeuven), and Lode Speleers (BIORO).
