Biotechnology now has a champion in WWF. In a recent study, the Fund has said that by 2030, biotechnology “has the potential to save the planet up to 2.5 billion tons of CO2 emissions per year.”
Biotechnology can help reduce carbon emissions and can fuel the economy with countless new jobs. The report says that industrial biotechnology “could help create a true 21st century green economy.” However, this cannot be done without political support. The report indentifies four fundamental dimensions of industrial biotechnology: Improved efficiency, the substitution of fossil fuels, the substitution of oil-based materials and the creation of a closed loop system with the potential to eliminate waste.
An example on how biotechnology solutions could help reduce carbon emissions is the harvesting of biogas from waste digesters and wastewater streams. The report emphasizes the potential of taking that existing technology even one step further and creating fully closed loop systems.
Biorefineries are able to transform any biobased waste material into a valuable feedstock for the production of other biobased materials. The possible emission reductions for such processes are estimated to be as high as 633 million tons of CO2.
However, tampering with organisms has its potential dangers as we have seen in the past. The dangers of GM foods with their potential to wipe out native strains have been oft told. As also development of resistance in weeds necessitating development of newer orders. Can we rely on biotechnology to create a green economy?
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