Case study

Research of concrete situation

For the specialty: 5B070100 - Biotechnology

Introduction

Biotechnology applications in agriculture are well known, but its industrial applications are now beginning to emerge. The so-called “White Biotechnology” points to an emerging field in biotechnology with immense potentials and significant impact on human socio-economic development. The chemical industry would be transformed through biotechnology innovations and policy makers, industrialists, researchers and consumers will all have to embrace and adjust themselves to the challenges of biotechnology. As these promises open up new opportunities for development, they also pose questions on old concerns such as the development gap between the developed and developing countries, poverty alleviation, and sustainable development in general. The impact of White Biotechnology on the ability of the international community in addressing common concerns deserve attention, for example its impact on biodiversity and intellectual property rights is largely unknown.This report is part of a series of publications by UNU-IAS on biotechnology. It is a consolidation of the knowledge and promises in White Biotechnology. It cites progress in various areas such as industrial enzyme development, progress in bioplastics production and biofuels, applications in the paper industry, biomining and environmental applications. These advances constitute a new front for society to interact with science but they will also point to future policy challenges for development and think-thank organizations such as UNU-IAS.Being an institute for advanced studies, among the objectives of UNU-IAS is to promote dialogues between science and society to inform policy-making. I hope this report would generate interest and new ideas among policy makers, professionals, scientists and other groups who are concerned and hopeful of the promise and potential of biotechnology in human welfare and development.

Date: 2015-04-20; view: 975