What are biosolutions?

Biological industrial solutions - or in short, biosolutions. ‘Inspired by nature’ is the principal concept of biosolutions. Evolution has given nature a head start of millions of years to find solutions to the problems that humanity now faces. Biosolutions have been used for thousands of years, such as fermentation processes to produce cheese and bread, but recent advancement in technologies have elevated their potential. They now hold the promise of solving major problems.

Biosolutions are nature's own tools

Biological industrial solutions offer a powerful pathway to accelerate the transition towards a sustainable and greener future. The term “biosolutions” covers goods and services derived from combining biology and technology with the ambition of accelerating the Green Transition. When we combine biology with technology, we create biosolutions. They leverage the potential of enzymes, microorganisms, bacterial cultures, yeast and other biological tools and thus contribute to reducing environmental and climate impact.

  • 8% of our

    current global CO2 emissions can be decreased and achieved

    if existing innovative biosolutions are implemented, moving us significantly closer to climate neutrality.

  • Up to 60%

    of the world's raw materials can be produced or substituted

    using biological means. Over the next 10 to 20 years, such advances could amount to 180-280 billion euros in market growth.

  • If 10%

    of the world's animal protein were replaced with alternative protein

    pollution amounting to 700 million tons of CO2 would be avoided and 900,000 km2 of agricultural land would be saved.

  • 3.2 jobs

    can be created in the European labour market and overall economy

    everytime we strengthen Europe with just one job in the biosolutions and biotechnology industry at large.

What can biosolutions do for us?

Biosolutions are not just a fleeting trend but a pivotal force in driving the biorevolution. This revolution promises to reshape industries, economies, and our relationship with the natural world. The factories of the future will not be mammoth coaldust-soiled structures with giant smokestacks. Instead, the most important factories of the future will be tiny yeast cells, bacteria and algae.

These microscopic powerhouses will produce everything from biofuels and bioplastics to pharmaceuticals and food ingredients by leveraging the natural processes in these organisms. The biorevolution can transform our industrial landscape, leading to greener technologies, less waste, and a harmonious coexistence with our environment. Biosolutions will be at the heart of this transformation, proving that the smallest organisms can have the biggest impact on our future.

How biosolutions can strengthen Europe's sustainability, resilience and competitiveness

Sustainability

Biosolutions are integral to enhancing Europe's sustainability by providing green alternatives and allowing for the achievement of a circular and bio-based paradigm.

By incorporting biosolutions into our practices, we can achieve a significantly more sustainable way of living. They are enables of achieviing net-zero in 2050, as implementing just the biosolutions we today will reduce global emissions by 8%. Dryland crops and scraps from agro-industrial value chains can be used as input to produce bio-based products, which enables use to protect our natural resources, close our cabon cycles and reduce our pollution. 

As much as 60% of the world's raw materials can be created biologically, which will significantly lower our dependence on fossil fuels and oils. Instead, we can scale up our production by relying on biofertilizers and biopesticides, which will foster healthier soils and reduce the environmental impact of our farming. Add in that biosolutions use much less arable land and water, we can achieve a clean environment, fulfill the promises of the Green Deal and feed a growing population. 

Resilience

The adoption of biosolutions enhances Europe's geopolitical resilience in the face of new challenges.

Biosolutions hold such a great promise for reducing food waste and producing food for a growing population that they can greatly strengthen Europe's resilience by covering everything from construction to food production. This will ensure more secure and sustainable food supply chains. By adoptiong biosolutions such as precision fermentation and bio-based products, Europe can reduce its dependency on external resources and mitigate the rsisks associated with global supply chain disruptions that are ever-more frequent with the current fading international paradigm. 

On top of that, biosolutions such as biopesticides can improve crop yields and reduce environmental impacts, promoting self-sufficiency in food production. This can all be done while supporting local, European economies and reduce reliance on global imports. By integrating biosolutions, Europe can build robust systems capable of withstanding and recovering from various shocks, ensuring long-term stability, security and resilience.

Competitiveness

Biosolutions are pivotal in boosting Europe's competitiveness and reclaim our position at the forefront.

The industrial bio-revolution is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Europe. Bio-based factories can offer news jobs and contribute to our economic growth, with 3.2 new jobs being created in the overall economy everytime 1 job is created in the biosolutions and biotechnology industry at large. Finally unleashing the innovations we already have will significantly increase tax revenue and allow our companies to let their products flourish with new market opportunities in hungry markets. 

In fact, implementing biosolutions can fulfill the promise of the much needed circular and bio-based paradigm and economy with safe, high-quality jobs and more efficient and resilient value chains, covering everything from construction to food production. This competitive edge will ensure that Europe remains at the forefront of the global economy, driving progress and prosperity through sustainable and innovative solutions.

Impactful biosolutions already exist

The potential of biosolutions is so enormous that it can be hard to fathom in its entirety. They are key to achieving net-zero in 2050, and they can reduce global CO2 emissions by 8%. Applying biosolutions at scale can allow us to produce food for a growing global population with much less land usage, creating the opportunity to counter the current loss of biodiversity. Through biosolutions, we can minimize waste and our environmental impact while maximizing economic and environmental benefits. They can strengthen Europe in key areas, by developing sustainable European supply chains and contribute greatly to achieving a circular and biobased economy. 

The future can be better for Europe. We can bolster our position and greatly strengthen our sustainability, resilience and competitiveness. And it all starts with biosolutions.