The Sustainability and Life Cycle Assessments of Industrial Biotechnology: An Introduction

Fröhling, Magnus; Hiete, Michael

doi:10.1007/10_2020_123

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…The recent success in scaling up bio-based innovations [1] has created expectations of decreasing the current dependence on fossil-based materials in a transition toward a circular economy and renewable energy systems [2]. Bioeconomy envisions to embody activities required to shift into resource-efficient and carbonneutral economies worldwide [3]. This economy concept involves prioritizing opportunities to produce renewable bio-resources and their transformation, including waste streams, into bio-products, such as fermented food, biochemicals, biomaterials, and bioenergy [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advances and opportunities in integrating economic and environmental performance of renewable products

Meramo

Sukumara

Fantke

2022

Biotechnol Biofuels

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There is a growing global need to transition from a fossil-based to a bio-based economy to produce fuels, chemicals, food, and materials. In the specific context of industrial biotechnology, a successful transition toward a sustainable development requires not only steering investment toward a bioeconomy, but also responsibly introducing bio-based products with lower footprints and competitive market prices. A comprehensive sustainability assessment framework applied along various research stages to guide bio-based product development is urgently needed but currently missing. To support holistic approaches to strengthen the global bioeconomy, the present study discusses methodologies and provides perspectives on the successful integration of economic and environmental performance aspects to guide product innovation in biotechnology. Efforts on quantifying the economic and environmental performance of bio-based products are analyzed to highlight recent trends, challenges, and opportunities. We critically analyze methods to integrate Techno-Economic Assessment (TEA) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) as example tools that can be used to broaden the scope of assessing biotechnology systems performance. We highlight the lack of social assessment aspects in existing frameworks. Data need for jointly applying TEA and LCA of succinic acid as example commodity chemical are assessed at various Technology readiness levels (TRLs) to illustrate the relevance of the level of integration and show the benefits of the use of combined assessments. The analysis confirms that the implementation of integrated TEA and LCA at lower TRLs will provide more freedom to improve bio-based product’s sustainability performance. Consequently, optimizing the system across TRLs will guide sustainability-driven innovation in new biotechnologies transforming renewable feedstock into valuable bio-based products.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advances and opportunities in integrating economic and environmental performance of renewable products

Meramo

Sukumara

Fantke

2022

Biotechnol Biofuels

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“…Also, agricultural biotechnology is considered as the next phase of green revolution, where it uses molecular technologies for plant's DNA fingerprinting and molecular engineering for efficiently producing environmentally friendly plants of desirable traits. This shows how biotechnology is an essential field worldwide and could take on an increasingly significant role as the industry develops [8,9]. Moreover, there has been significant attention directed to the budding nature of the biotechnological industry with progress emanating from the development of drugs and eco-friendly products.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…of the apparent multitude of contentions to be viewed while considering a biotechnical cycle, improving the engagement of the stakeholders in a country to increase biotechnological applications becomes the sole purpose. Various industries that apply biotechnology have been analyzed, and extraordinary measures (biotechnological versus regular cycles) are considered from a monetary perspective [9,17,18]. However, to understand the extent of biotechnology education and the future of biotechnological applications in the KSA, this study sought students' responses about these issues.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biotechnology: knowledge, perception and future in Saudi Arabia

Banjer

Shami

Horaib

et al. 2021

Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment

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The use of different biotechnological applications has grown immensely over the previous years to almost double the industry's size. There has been significant attention directed to the potential of the biotechnology industry and its imminent role in ensuring a country's development. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is one of many countries planning to employ biotechnologies as a means of reaching a high-income economy. This study investigated the knowledge and perceptions of a cohort of 178 university students from around the KSA on biotechnology applications. The study showed that the majority, 50%, agreed that they had information about biotechnology and its application. Many respondents (43.8%) agreed with the biotechnology practices and activities. There was a significant positive correlation between the knowledge and perception of the students (χ 2 =34.54, ρ=0.0001). The majority of the respondents acknowledged that biotechnology was essential for enhancing the students' perception and improving biotechnology activities. The responses demonstrated the attitudes and beliefs (which have a great influence on the personal decisions of individuals) of current students, who eventually will be policy-makers, leaders and consumers, and will generally represent the future society of the country. Consequently, the study allowed to suggest creating awareness and increasing the influence of this topic to all stakeholders. There is a need for educators and curriculum developers to emphasize the significance of biotechnology. In addition to the importance of positioning the applications of this field in the public sphere, due to its supporting role in the country's scientific progress and economic growth.

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The Sustainability and Life Cycle Assessments of Industrial Biotechnology: An Introduction

Cited by 2 publications

References 21 publications

Advances and opportunities in integrating economic and environmental performance of renewable products

Advances and opportunities in integrating economic and environmental performance of renewable products

Biotechnology: knowledge, perception and future in Saudi Arabia

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