It’s no secret that we’re in a transformative time for biotechnology and bioinnovation. Today, scientists are unlocking new solutions that are better for both human health and environmental sustainability. These solutions include meat proteins that are no longer sourced from animals, textiles and dyes created from microbes, and new sources of nutrients, such as omega-3 sourced from microalgae. All of these new products are the results of developments in synthetic biology, a rising biotechnology approach to redesign and refabricate existing biological systems already found in nature into products that are better for the environment and people.
Food and textiles are just some examples of how biotechnology can transform existing processes and provide new solutions to tackle today’s most pressing challenges. Nature possesses many of the building blocks we need to address the multitude of material challenges we face today across various sectors. First introduced in 2001, synthetic biology redesigns existing microorganisms and has applications in consumer goods such as agricultural crops, medicine, apparel, building materials, and others. Emerging technologies, such as CRISPR, have helped scientists to understand the biochemical capability and gene function of both existing, resource-intensive ingredients and other plants or animals that may offer a more efficient solution. Because these next-gen materials are reimagined to address specific challenges, solutions can be iterated to have better, higher performance than incumbents.
The Evolution of Synthetic Biology: from Health to Climate
Early applications of synthetic biology began in the healthcare industry, specifically biomedicine to create vaccinations and therapeutics by better understanding viruses and diseases and their effects on patients. Since then, technological advancements, such as gene editing technology and progress in bioinformatics, have helped progress more targeted treatment for specific diseases and personalized medicine. Tools like CRISPR have unlocked simpler paths to strain optimization and reduced barriers to applications beyond human health, including a reduced reliance on environmentally damaging end products.
The opportunity for synthetic biology in the environment is far-reaching as it can address supply chain and climate challenges by replacing petrochemical products at scale. Addressing climate change with synthetic biology is two-fold. First, it requires innovations to decarbonize heavy-emitting industries that rely on petrochemical-based materials, meaning we need to prioritize biology-based technologies that do less harm to the environment. Second, the urgent need to address climate change means we require more adaptive solutions in all heavy-emitting industries related to food, power, water, and other critical resources. Agricultural crops will have to become more resilient to saltwater intrusion and unprecedented weather conditions. Textile materials must be thought of in a more circular approach, either through reuse or degrading completely back into the natural environment, in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from landfills.
In parallel, the bioreactor industry has also continued to grow to support research and development (R&D), yet a financing gap still exists for infrastructure to support growth. As solutions continue to scale, so does the requirement for infrastructure that can support large-scale production and more consistent output.
Most facilities today are designed to support biopharmaceutical or ethanol production, limiting growth in emerging industries. The opportunity to support advancements in synthetic biology will require support, both public and private, for more infrastructure and resources to allow these innovations a clear path from lab to commercial scale. In Canada, Lambton College in Sarnia, Ontario and the Verschuren Centre at Cape Breton University in Sydney, Nova Scotia, have provided resources for early-stage companies to validate their platforms and small-stage development. Having a greater breadth of access to equipment and facilities for research will be critical to support the expansion of synthetic biology in different industrial applications in the next decade.
Unlocking Impact with Synthetic Biology
Achieving global net zero targets will require everyone to rethink our social and environmental systems, especially when it comes to our everyday consumption and habits such as food, clothing, and transportation. High-polluting industries, like agriculture and construction, will continue to be in high demand, yet they are faced with the mounting pressure to change their current practices and materials to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They must achieve these standards while also strategically being resilient to the effects of climate change.
Synthetic biology is an opportunity to unlock a new reliance on more renewable resources while still maintaining, or improving production rates. By replacing petrochemical-based inputs, the impact opportunity for environmental protection and social wellness is significant. If we think about the current environmental impact of textiles, approximately 54 million tonnes of petrochemical-based plastic produced today goes into textiles, primarily for polyester. This accounts for 20% of all plastic production annually, and yet 87% of that fabric at the end of its life will be incinerated or end up in landfills. By diverting core materials from major industries like textiles, synthetic biology creates a true circular economy solution by reducing toxic materials in landfills.
Lastly, incorporating synthetic biology and biosolutions are a key lever to resource efficiency, which holds both cost and environmental benefits for businesses. While individual consumers and large enterprise customers with net zero commitments continue to push forward the demand for more environmentally friendly solutions, the advantages for biotech solutions support efforts towards more efficient operations. Early stage synthetic biology companies have the opportunity to disrupt heavy emitting industries by providing solutions that contribute to greater resource efficiency. As public markets transition towards mandatory ESG reporting, there will be ripple effects among smaller enterprises within their supply chain. The shift towards a more sustainable and transparent supply chain is here and ESG targets have become just as material to large enterprises as operational costs. Advancements and innovation in materials will be essential to incorporate in the next decade to meet sustainability targets.
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