Synthetic Biology At Scale Could Reshape Food and Materials Systems, Expert Says
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Synthetic biomanufacturing offers a path to resolving global tensions between climate change and population growth, with the potential to revolutionize how the world produces food, materials and agricultural resources, a senior industry adviser said.
Synthetic biomanufacturing, the process of using genetically engineered microbes to produce chemicals or materials, is poised to disrupt traditional industries over the next decade, said Jiang Weiming, chairman of the business advisory committee at the Shanghai Synthetic Biology Innovation Center on Tuesday at an industry event. Jiang noted that China has elevated the sector to a strategic priority in its industrial planning, including the 15th Five-Year Plan.
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- Synthetic biomanufacturing uses genetically engineered microbes to produce chemicals and materials, offering major sustainability benefits over traditional industries.
- For 6,000 tons of protein, synthetic methods use 8% of the land and 1% of the water, with 95% less CO₂ emissions than dairy farming, and no animal waste.
- Challenges include commercialization hurdles, capital misallocation, and regulatory needs, despite strategic support in China and global competition from the US and Europe.
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