Industrial Biotech in Northern Europe -paving the path to a sustainable bioeconomy by Lene Lange, Professor and Director of research Aalborg University, AAU Denmark Peter Plenge 1 af 33
The new era for industrial biotechnology Initially: Enzymes and food ingredients Current focus: Biomass conversion into renewable energy The future: Source of renewable carbon for higher value products (in biorefineries) Peter Plenge 2 af 33
Aalborg University Campus locations Peter Plenge 3 af 33
BIO IS IN FOCUS -as an important part of the solution Biological products Biological processes Biological solutions = Industrial Biotechnology The smaller, but most promising sister of green and red biotechnology Peter Plenge 4 af 33
Current stronghold of industrial biotechnology Enzyme technologies: environmentally friendly process conditions -ex textile and leather industry enzymes saving water and electricity -ex detergent enzymes better use of raw materials -cellulases for wine and juice -phytase for animal feed -> More to gain from bio-upgrade of classical industries -> new markets built by triple helix in action! Peter Plenge 5 af 33
IB: Core technology, production & market Advanced microbial production: -large scale fermentation -bioproduction by bacteria and filamentous fungi Bulk products & Low profit margin: => production and customers on all continents High (highest!) demand on technologies: => extremely high yield; monocomponent proteins => GRAS status of production organisms Peter Plenge 6 af 33
=> Few global players in IB Northern Europe is in lead! Strongest expertise in Denmark, Holland, Germany (?) Finland and US; China, India and Brazil are building up. Global market share of Danish companies: ca 70%! (split between Novozymes and Danisco/Genencor) Similar dominance for plant based food ingredients (Danisco) Peter Plenge 7 af 33
Now: paradigm shift, from fossils to renewables What we currently get from oil and gas will in future have to come from renewables: Energy can come from both Wind, Sun and Biomass BUT: New Carbon from plants, algae and microbes are the only source which can substitute for fossil Carbon => New era for Industrial Biotechnology Peter Plenge 8 af 33
From Oil-refinery to Bio-refinery Fuels and energy Fuels and energy Petroleum Lignocellulose Starch Biomass Chemicals, plastics Chemicals/feed/food Peter Plenge 9 af 33
Biorefinery core Technologies are the same as core technologies for IB! Microbial molecular biology Protein chemistry Microbial production/fermentation Plant Biomass conversion (breaking down) Product differentiation (building up) Peter Plenge 10 af 33
Biorefinery research Bioprocesses biological, chemical and thermal conversion methods, improved process engineering Biofuelshydrocarbons, biodiesel, ethanol and other alcohols, diesel, gasoline, crude oil, biogas, syngas Biochemicalsspecialty chemicals such as enzymes, catalysts, proteins, paints, inks, surfactants, polymers, lubricants, solvents, plant-made pharmaceuticals Biomaterials fiber products, lumber, fillers, processed foods, laminates, roofing, plastics, insulation Peter Plenge 11 af 33
Borregaard Biorefinery Norway Peter Plenge 12 af 33
Lignocellulosic Biorefinery Borregaard Peter Plenge 13 af 33
Ethanol Biorefineries Currently: 65 operative (1st Generation/corn) ethanol biorefineries in EU 201 operative plants in US 2G technology is ready for commercialization! Peter Plenge 14 af 33
Oil-refinery vs New Bio-refinery from biowaste Liquid, no water Fuels and energy Solid, typically >15% water Fuels and energy Petroleum Lignocellulose Organic wastes Marine biomass Green biomass Whole crop biomass Biomass Chemicals Chemicals/feed/food Peter Plenge 15 af 33
Organic waste with biorefinery potential Agricultural crop residues Agroindustrial side streams Sea weed & Sea food waste Industrial Waste Household waste Manure Sewage sludge Peter Plenge 16 af 33
Marine Biomass Biorefineries of the future? => basis for development of coastal regions Earth area: 510 million km 2 Land area: 148 million km 2 Arable land: 60 million km 2 Peter Plenge 17 af 33
Biomass cascade: from high value components down to residual biomass for production of electricity and heat High value Pharma and cosmetics Food and Feed Bioplastics and Polymers Low value Bulk chemicals and Fuels Energy and Heat Peter Plenge 18 af 33
The Industrial Biotech option for Northern Europe Target industrial biotech options (upgrade existing industries) & combine fertile soils with agricultural and biotech skills => Make value from crop residues and agroindustrial waste Strategy: Increased value adding from agriculture => rural development Start up of new industries from biomass conversion => job creation Nurture home markets, triple helix and technology export =>stimulate economy and growth Peter Plenge 19 af 33
Grading of different waste materials in the biomass cascade High value Pharma and cosmetics Low value Agricultural wastes, some marine wastes Household wastes, sewage sludge, manure Food and Feed Bioplastics and Polymers Bulk chemicals and Fuels Energy and Heat Peter Plenge 20 af 33
Grading the processes in the biomass conversion High value Biochemical/microbi ological processes Pharma and cosmetics Food and Feed Physicochemi cal processes Bioplastics and Polymers Bulk chemicals and Fuels Low value Energy and Heat Peter Plenge 21 af 33
Biorefinery Research needs: new research can open for new options! Combining bio catalysis and chemical catalysis (nanotechnology) Discovery of valuable components from plant biomass New algal cell factories New types of biological productions (fungi, bacteria, archaea) Protein discovery and Consortium biology (transcriptomics) Synthetic Biology combining pathways of different types of organisms Synthesis Biology, making new polymers from plant building blocks Peter Plenge 22 af 33
Discovery of microbial, secreted enzymes, Technology: Now: Full length cdna libraries of interesting ecological niches -including the unculturable microorganisms TAST, Transposon assisted signal trapping, screening of libraries -unbiased of sequence and activity, allowing for true novelty! PCR-based Sage, quantitative transcriptomics! New projects: Consortium transcriptomics & Synthesis biology Peter Plenge 23 af 33
Termite larvae (gut channel) Discovery from nature s own biomass conversion niches! Cow (rumen) Iberian snail (gut) Leaf cutter ant <Udfyld sidefod-oplysninger her> Peter Plenge 24 af 33
Enzyme discovery: Arabinoxylan degrading enzymes EC 3.2.1.55 EC 3.1.1.73 EC 3.1.1.72 EC 3.2.1.8 EC 3.2.1.37 <Udfyld sidefodoplysninger Peter Plenge 25 af 33 her>
Industrial Biotechnology at AAU in Copenhagen Research Focus: Biomass Conversion Biotechnology microbial /protein discovery microbial /molecular biology process technology, incl conversion of new biomasses product differentiation and biorefineries *) Teaching programs -all in English: International Bachelor program on Biotechnology and Bioenergy International Master program on Industrial Biotechnology Intl. PhD courses: Biorefineries and Anaerobic Biotechnology *) Let me know if you are interested in sending students to us lla@adm.aau.dk Peter Plenge 26 af 33
Acknowledgement Birgitte Ahring, Professor, AAU Peter Westermann, associate professor, AAU My own group: Morten Nedergaard Grell, associate professor Peter K. Busk, associate professor Mette Lange, post doc Doris Roth, post doc Bo Piigaard, lab technician Peter Plenge 27 af 33
Thanking for your attention -questions are welcome!