Profile
about how biotech is creating a healthier, greener, more productive and more sustainable economy. We need to act now to develop the skills, support and infrastructure necessary to ensure that Europe not only retains, but also grows its jobs and scientific excellence in biotechnology and that it does not fall behind other competing economies like the US, Brazil or Asia.
Q. What are the main long-term benefits of biotechnology?
Q. What do you consider to be the most use- ful applications of biotechnology today?
ND - Biotechnology is one of the most innova- tive and useful industries out there today, with the capability of providing solutions to some of society’s most pressing needs- from jobs and growth of the economy to healthcare needs, food security and an alternative to fossil fuels. Whilst biotechnology alone is not a silver bullet for all of society’s needs, it is an important piece of the puzzle in identifying Europe’s strengths, fostering them and creating a more sustainable future where resources are used in a more effi- cient way. This is a point that has been reiterated by policy makers and investors and more recently reflected by the European Commission’s la- belling of biotechnology as one of six key en- abling technologies for growing the European economy. Already the European Bioeconomy has an estimated worth of more than €2 trillion annually and employs 22 million people, often in rural or coastal areas and in SMEs. Healthcare biotech is already benefiting
more than 350 million patients around the world through the use of biotech medicine to treat and prevent every day and chronic illnesses includ- ing heart attacks, stroke, multiple sclerosis, breast cancer, cystic fibrosis, leukaemia, dia- betes, hepatitis and other rare or infectious dis- eases. Healthcare biotech enables the development of therapies for rare diseases that
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are often debilitating and life threatening and that effect 20 to 30 million Europeans and their families. Healthcare biotech already accounts for more than 20% of all marketed medicines and it is estimated that by 2015, 50% of all med- icines will come from biotech. It increases the effectiveness and safety of treatments as well as reducing the use of ineffective treatments and adverse reactions through its approach on Per- sonalised Medicine that works to diagnose what one patient’s problems are precisely and then work to better adapt the healthcare solutions to suit their specific needs.
Industrial biotech uses enzymes and micro-
organisms to make products which improve the effectiveness of detergents so that clothes can be washed at lower temperatures and the produc- tion of paper and pulp, food, clothing, chemi- cals and bioenergy is done in a more environmentally efficient way using less energy, less water and producing less waste. In Europe, we are world leaders of industrial biotechnol- ogy, producing approximately 75% of the world’s enzymes.
New products in the agricultural biotech R&D pipeline are very promising. By offering new, improved and adapted agricultural crops such as drought or saline resistant plants, agri- cultural biotech offers new solutions to farmers around the world. Other advances include de- veloping crops that should deliver consumer health benefits such as biofortification with nutri- ents such as zinc, additional protein or omega 3. All of these bold technologies promise a
brighter future for Europe and the world. But for this to happen, the industry requires sounds pol- icy decisions that support innovation and risk– taking as well as a public that is well informed
ND - Biotechnology has a huge potential in al- leviating environmental, human health and eco- nomic challenges. It offers sustainable agricultural and industrial practices as well as innovative health care solutions. Biotechnology, in its agricultural and indus-
trial applications, boosts the use of renewable resources thus slowing down the depletion of fossil fuels and decreasing CO2 emissions. Bio- based materials which are biodegradable and environmentally friendly help preserve the ecosystem through a sustainable use of raw materials. In addition, improving seeds through biotech-
nology brings direct economic benefits to the farmer in terms of saved costs and increased production; and ultimately to the consumers who have then access to safe, affordable and quality food. This is key when we know that the world population’s growth will lead to an in- creased demand for food by 70% by 2050. Another societal challenge – the unmet med-
ical needs of the population – can also be ad- dressed by the innovative solutions of biotechnology. These healthcare solutions allow for more personalised treatments to suit indi- vidual needs and increasingly provide insights to curing rare diseases. Fast advancement in healthcare biotechnology is important for new drug discoveries. Therefore, investment in this technology is essential in securing the economic future of a healthy Europe.
The development of biotechnology projects leads to a competitive, knowledge-based econ- omy. The benefits of this technology are spread beyond healthcare, agriculture and industrial manufacturing. Many biotechnology companies are SMEs and thus are the backbone of Euro- pean business and innovation. The growing op- portunities that biotechnology provides to the economy create jobs and ease the transition to a more sustainable society.
New European Economy
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