UNU-IAS Report
Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology
Achievements, Prospects, and Perceptions
This report was written by
Professor Albert Sasson
UNU-IAS Visiting Professor
Copyright © 2005 UNU-IAS All Rights Reserved
Cover photo Getty Images
UNU-IAS Report
Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology
Achievements, Prospects, and Perceptions
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Contents
Foreword
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Executive summary
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1 Definition and policies
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2 Enzymes
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3 Bioplastics
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4 Feedstocks and biofuels
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1.1 Ethanol production
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1.2 Biofuel production in the European Union
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1.2 The Paper Industry
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5 The future of industrial biotechnology
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6 Biomining and bioleaching of ores
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7 Environmental biotechnology: bioremediation
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1.1 Removal of toxic metals
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1.2 Bioremediation and genetic engineering
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8 Illustrative examples
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1.1 Thailand
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1.2 Australia
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9 Metagenomics
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10 Social acceptance
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References
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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 Whi