Way Forward for Biomanufacturing and Biotechnology in Europe

Abstract

To restrict global warming to a maximum of 1.5 °C, greenhouse gas emissions need to be reduced to ‘net zero’ by 2050. The transition from the current, largely fossil-based global economy towards a circular, nowaste (bio-) economy based on renewable raw materials is seen as a critical pillar. In this paper, we explore the sustainability benefits as well as the implementation opportunities and challenges in Europe for three biomanufactured products used in animal and human nutrition, i.e. vitamins A and B₂ and canthaxanthin. To allow the biomanufacturing industry to leverage its full potential and to achieve ‘net zero’ in time, it will be crucial for European policy makers to create the appropriate framework conditions for incentivizing the required transformation of the chemical sector as well as for securing the competitiveness of European industry.