WHITE BIOTECH

I. Introduction

For hundreds of years, mankind relied on Mother Nature for all the things they

wanted to make themselves more comfortable. Humans wove clothes and fabrics from wool

and dyed them with plants colors, build houses and furniture with trees material. But with

the onset of half of the twentieth century, the trend changed when organic chemistry

introduced techniques to create many of these products by themselves. Plastics replaced

wood and metals, artificial dyes were used for coloring. But then biology started taking

revenge on many of these synthetic, petroleum-based consumer goods. Increasing mass of

non-degradable synthetics in earth’s environment made biodegradable products appealing

again.

Biotechnology industries then started to explore nature’s richness for the techniques

to replace petroleum-based non-degradable synthetics. And this is what ‘white

biotechnology‘ is all about.

White biotechnology – also meaning Industrial Biotechnology uses

microorganisms and their enzymes to manufacture the goods for industry, such as chemicals,

plastics, pharmaceutical, food, and energy carriers. These, renewable raw materials and the

waste from forestry and agriculture are used for manufacturing industrial goods. White

biotechnology is solely applied to the industry to replace polluting technologies for clean

ones.

The technology uses living cells from moulds, bacteria, plants, and yeast to synthesize

the products which are easily degradable needs less energy and produces least by-product

wastes. White biotechnology is used for Metabolite production, Waste treatment, Production

of biocontrol agents, Bio-based fuel & energy and so on.

 The application of biotechnology to industrial production holds many promises for

sustainable development, but many products still have to pass the test of economic viability.

II. Activities In Industrial Microbiology and How White Microbiology Works

 Isolation of microorganisms from nature,

 Their screening for product formation,

 Improvement of product yields,

 Maintenance of cultures,

 Mass culture using bioreactors, and

 Recovery of products or services.

III. The Applications of White Biotechnology

1. Metabolite Production
Microorganisms produce different metabolites during their growth stages by using cheap
substrates. Acetone-butanol, Organic acids Alcohol. Antibiotics, Enzymes, and Vitamins can
be produced.
2. Waste Treatment
Reducing pollution by proper waste treatment is in-fact the best waste treatment is among
the major goal of white biotechnology.

3. Production of Biocontrol Agents

Microorganisms are used to control insect pests, pathogens, and weed. The biological agents
used for this purpose are called biocontrol agents.
4. Bio-Based Fuel & Energy
Cellulose enzyme technology benefits the conversion of crop residues to ethanol. The
techniques also allow reduced CO2 emissions by 90% (compared to oil). Further, it produces
greater domestic energy and uses renewable feedstock.

5. Recovery of Metals
Microbes are employed to recover valuable metals from the metals of a low grade for which
the conventional metallurgical processes are polluting.

IV. Major Purpose of White Biotechnology

 White biotechnology is an important part of environmental sustainability and
industrial development. Keeping both in mind, here are some of the key objectives of white
biotechnology.

1. White biotechnology’s first agenda has been the production of biodegradable

plastics with the polyesters of 3-hydroxy acids (PHAs).

PHA is naturally synthesized by many microorganisms as an energy reserve and

carbon source. These compounds work as synthetic thermoplastics and elastomers but are
rapidly degraded by bacteria in soil or water. Biotechnology specialists have been working
in this sector for over 20 years.

The most abundant PHA is poly(3-hydroxy-butyrate) (PHB), which bacteria

synthesize from acetyl-CoA. Growing on glucose, the bacterium Ralstonia eutropha can
amass up to 85% of its dry weight in PHB, which makes this microorganism a miniature
bioplastic factory.

Constraint: A major problem of the commercialization of such plastics is its cost-

they are five to ten times expensive than petroleum-based polymers. Thus the major part of
the research has been focused on reducing their production cost.

2. A US company Dupont has successfully manufactured 1,3-propanediol from corn

sugar. This corn-based polymer, called Sorona has improved characteristics and is
environmentally friendly.

Constraint: As usual, the cost of production is high and market demand for such
products is low.

3. “Paper” is another product that could benefit from white biotechnology. Much of the
pollution in the paper-making process is caused by ‘krafting’- removing lignin from the
wood substrate.

Now, many research is making an effort to reduce the modifying lignin structure or
its amount in trees.

Constraint: Although the papermaking industry could have made a good margin by
reducing production costs, no major projects in this mission have yet been undertaken.
There are two major roadblocks transgenic wood commercialization, altered lignin needs
to adopt in its actual field performance rather than laboratory and secondly public need to
accept the use of transgenic organisms and their product.
4. White biotechnology is concerned on production of energy from renewable
biomasses such as starch from potatoes, sugar cane, wheat, and corn is used to make ethanol
as a substitute for gasoline. Note: Henry Ford’s first car ran on ethanol.

In Brazil, some motor fuel sold is pure ethanol that is derived from sugar cane, and
the rest has a twenty percent ethanol content in it. 10% of all motor fuel sold in the USA is a
mixture of 90% petrol and 10% ethanol. The report says that the USA alone has 58 fuel
plants producing almost 6 billion liters of ethanol per year.

V. Future of White Biotechnology

White biotechnology can someday replace a major portion of natural oil with all
micro-organisms products. The non-degradable paper and plastic use can be minimized to a
great extent and replaced by the bio-degradable one.

White biotechnology has large benefits- both economically and environmentally.

But that needs a wide range of applications. The increasingly growing concerns about the
nature and the possibility of cheaper fuel in the future make white biotechnology a serious
contender.

GREEN BIOTECH

GreenBiotechnology
Green biotechnology deals with the use of environmentally-friendly solutions as an alternative to
traditional agriculture, horticulture, and animal breeding processes. An example is the designing
of transgenic plants that are modified for improved flavor, for increased resistance to pests and
diseases, or for enhanced growth in adverse weather conditions. Genetically enhanced crops are
one tool that could contribute to a more harmonious balance between food production and our
surrounding environment. The overall message is that biotech plants can, and already do,
contribute positively to reducing CO2 emissions and anticipating the impact of climate change on
food scarcity. This will increase as they are more widely adopted. This document aims to provide
background information about the role green biotech currently plays, and can play in future, in
helping to combat climate change.

Green biotechnology refers to biological techniques to plants with the aim of improving the
nutritional quality, quantity and production economics. such as production of disease-resistant or
UV-resistant plants, or plants that have superior qualities, by means of genetic modification. Other
examples include production of biofuels, such as ethanol or methane, from crops such as corn, or
even from marine algae grown at land-based production facilities.
Green biotechnology involves the use of environmentally friendly solutions as an alternative to
traditional industrial agriculture, horticulture and animal breeding processes.

 -use of bacteria to facilitate the growth of plants

 -development of pest-resistant grains

 -engineering of plants to express pesticides

 -use of bacteria to assure better crop yields instead of pesticides and herbicides

 -production of superior plants by stimulating the early development of their root systems

 -use of plants to remove heavy metals such as lead, nickel, or silver, which can then be
extracted ("mined") from the plants

 -genetic manipulation to allow plant strains to be frost-resistant

 -use of genes from soil bacteria to genetically alter plants to promote tolerance to fungal
pathogens

 -use of bacteria to get plants to grow faster, resist frost and ripen earlier.

The biotechnology sector, when defined with colors is like a rainbow, with each color denoting a
particular sub-sector. The color green in biotechnology represents the areas of agricultural and
environmental biotechnology. While agricultural biotechnology involves the use of scientific tools
and techniques to develop the agricultural sector, the environmental biotechnology focuses on
using microorganisms to prevent, reduce and treat environmental pollution.

Green biotechnology deals with the use of environmentally friendly solutions as an alternative to
traditional agricultural, horticulture and animal breeding process. Example of agricultural
applications of green biotechnology is the use of genetically altered plants or animals, development
of transgenic plants, genetic engineering of plants, manipulation and use of microorganisms to
facilitate crop growth, producing fertile and resistant seeds, etc. Similarly, ecological applications
include bioremediation, development of biofuels and biofertilizers, applications in
geomicrobiology, microbial ecology, solid waste management, wastewater treatment, etc.

Tools and Applications of Green Biotechnology in Agriculture

Agritech is believed to defend hunger in a more eco-friendly manner without disturbing the natural
environmental health. It makes use of biological processes and technologies to produce more fertile
and resistant plants and ensures the promotion of biofertilizers and biopesticides.

BENEFITS OF AGRICULTURAL BITECHNOLOGY

The applications of agricultural biotechnology are nearly limitless. Your own diet may include
many products that are the result of agricultural biotechnology projects. Produce, milk and other
foodstuffs may be in your store courtesy of agricultural biotechnology.
Through genetic manipulation, scientists can create crops that produce more than their unmodified
counterparts. It's also possible to introduce genes so that a crop has more nutritional value. The
Golden Rice Project is a good example -- scientists have used genetic engineering to produce rice
rich in vitamin A. While rice already has genes that would produce vitamin A in wild species,
these genes are turned off during the growth process. The genes inserted into golden rice keep the
vitamin A production genes turned on.

Another useful application of agricultural biotechnology is to give plants the ability to grow in a
wider range of environments. Some plants do well only in certain climates or soil conditions. By
introducing genes from other organisms, scientists can alter these plants so that they'll grow in
climates that normally would be too harsh for them. Land previously unsuited for crops can be
reclaimed for food production.

A third application involves making plants more resistant to disease, pests and chemicals. Genes
can give plants a defense against threats that could normally wipe out an entire generation of crops.
Genetic manipulation can lead to plants that are toxic to pests but still safe for human consumption.
Alternatively, scientists can develop genes that will make crops resistant to pesticides and
herbicides so that farmers can treat their crops with chemicals.

What is Yellow Biotechnology?

Yellow biotechnology is, perhaps the oldest branch of biotechnology because it considers
production of human and animal food (however, according to another classification yellow
biotechnology refers to biotechnology with insects). It is analogous to the red (animals) and green
(plants) biotechnology. Making it simple, Yellow biotechnology is the use of bio-engineering to
make food better. Making the enormous repository of all the natural substances available to the
bio-economy is yellow biotechnology which is also called ‘Insect Biotechnology’. It’s a modern
agriculture branch related to food production where active genes in insects are used for
application in agriculture and medicine.

Brief History

Nearly 10,000 years ago, our ancestors were producing wine, beer, cheese and bread by using
fermentation. For example, Egyptians applied fermentation technologies to make dough rise
during bread making. Due in part to this application, there were more than 50 varieties of bread
in Egypt more than 4,000 years ago. Hypoallergenic rice discovered in Japan in nineties of the
preceding century is considered as precursor of functional food.

In 2013, a company, founded by Dr. Mark Post is using in vitro cell culture technology on adult
cow stem cells for making bovine muscle tissue—aka hamburger meat. As a result, land use is
decreased by 99%, greenhouse gas emissions by 96% and water use by 96% when compared
to other animal meat products. The experiment was done on Maastricht University, the
Netherlands and live aired the first tasting of his “test tube meat” made up with 20,000 hand-
cultured muscle strands. Testers noted the meat didn’t have fat or juiciness, but gave 10 out of
10 for the mouth feel and definitely preferred the in vitro meat over vegetable-based
substitute. The cost of the first hamburger was a €250,000 (over $311,000). Further research
might make it easier and cheaper.

Why is Yellow Biotechnology made?

Over 200,000 insect’s species depends upon plant for food. Over the course of time, they have
evolved to render plant defenses- plant toxins produced to fend off herbivores. These
detoxification processes are coded in various genes. Biotechnology is now working on switching
these genes in a way plant toxins are no longer effective. Some makeable progress has also been
made with the use of RNAi technology.
On the other hand, it’s obvious that the meat industry has a pervasive, effect on global
environments. Deforestation, heavy feed, and clean water usage are necessary to raise the
livestock, while pesticides, antibiotics, and animal waste, directly pollute the environment. From
the resource diversion to create farms and their subsequent byproducts- the meat industry is
responsible for 24% of greenhouse gas emissions alone. Despite the implications for both human
health and the environment, meat demand is increasing even as our natural resources are
diminishing.

Goals of Yellow Biotechnology

Today, the main goal of yellow biotechnology is improvement of certain food to obtain the most
nourishing one and fortified with healthpromoting additives. It is reached by enzymatic and
microbial (also applying genetically modified ones) processing of food, elimination of allergens
and components causing its intolerance or its fortification with health-promoting components. So
called functional food is of special interest of yellow biotechnology. It is also called health-
promoting or nutraceutical one.

Yellow biotechnology also includes:

 Minimizing environmental exploitation from meat production

 Modification of plant toxins
 Extracting useful insects products

Future of Yellow Biotechnology

Science is making new discovery and inventions every single day. Every passing day, we get to
hear of a new story that could possibly change the way we live and we think some day. Yellow
biotechnology also got similar possibilities.

Imagine sustainable and cheap hamburger on your table, without the costs to the environment or
animals (A vegetarian Hamburger?). Or a plant toxin that could actually do good to your health.
Yellow Biotechnology someday aims to apply biotechnological methods for exploiting insect-
derived molecules, cells, organs – as products for using it in the fields of medicine, plant protection
or manufacturing. Who knows, we find start raising genetically modified insects for drugs and
therapy someday?