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Industrial biotechnology is not a new idea - biotechnology has long been used to produce goods such as beer, wine and cheese. The focus of new industrial biotechnology is on the replacement of traditional chemical processes with more sustainable and environmentally friendly biological processes. The focus is also on improving traditional biotechnology techniques through the use of new biotechnology processes (e.g. using genetically modified yeasts to improve fermentation yield).
Industrial biotechnology is well positioned to build on Australia’s strong resource-based economy, particularly in agriculture and mining (Australia’s largest export sector)1 and in process technology capabilities.
Australia has current capabilities in a range of processes using biotechnology, with potential for further development. Australia is one of only 17 mega-diverse countries in the world. Extensive biodiscovery and screening has allowed Australian researchers to access large numbers of unique compounds and organisms which may find uses in industrial applications (e.g. bioleaching of mineral deposits or novel enzymes for use as industrial catalysts).
Defining industrial biotechnology
Industrial biotechnology can be defined as ‘that set of technologies that come from adapting and modifying the biological organisms, processes, products and systems found in nature for the purpose of producing goods and services.’2 Industrial biotechnology can also include bioprocessing3.
Australia’s current industrial biotechnology capabilities are categorised under:
Drivers of industrial biotechnology
There are a number of drivers for industrial biotechnology in Australia, including an increasing need for sustainable resource use and development. There is also the desire to maximise cost competitiveness of products in a global market, by increasing process efficiency or replacing petroleum-based feedstocks with cheaper alternatives.
As well as cost, productivity and efficiency gains, benefits of industrial biotechnology can include reduced energy and water use in production processes, and less pollution and/or cleaner waste resulting from production. These benefits are consistent with enhanced environmental regulation, international agreements and public opinion focussed towards a cleaner, healthier environment.
Enhancing Australia’s industrial biotechnology capabilities
Each of the five product areas identified as key areas of industrial biotechnology capability in Australia are underpinned by a range of factors and conditions that support Australian industrial processes generally. These factors include government policies, R&D support, leading institutions, collaboration between researchers and industry and company activity.
Government policies that underpin growth in industrial biotechnology include:
- National Research Priorities, with biotechnology noted as a key area in Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries because it can assist in transforming existing industries to deliver national wealth, while minimising environmental impacts on land and sea.
R&D infrastructure supporting industrial biotech is spread across universities and public and private research institutions, including the: CSIRO; AJ Parker Cooperative Research Centre for Hydrometallurgy (AJ Parker CRC); Sugar Research Institute (SRI); Ian Wark Research Institute (IWRI); and Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN).
Collaboration is a key factor supporting industrial biotechnology capabilities. There are significant partnerships between governments, research institutions, universities, and industry. In addition, Australia has industrial biotechnology precincts in most states and territories, aimed at fostering collaboration.
Examples of the diverse interests brought together through precincts and collaboration that may produce outcomes for industrial biotechnology include:
- the Mawson Precinct in South Australia - a high-tech commercial, research and teaching hub that is recognised for excellence in Information and Communications Technology (ICT), defence and biomaterials, incorporating the IWRI; and
- AIBN’s research into areas that will provide a range of benefits for human health, manufacturing, information technology and the environment.
Industry activity is another key element enhancing capabilities, and in the industrial biotechnology field there are a number of companies involved in the production of chemical intermediaries, biomining and other biological processing.
Bioprocessing is an integral and essential step in the manufacturing activities of most biotechnology companies whatever the product (e.g. even if it is only to produce enough of a novel drug to test in Phase I and II clinical trials). Several Australian companies are engaged in significant biomanufacturing activities, supplying both domestic and international biotech customers.
Bioprocessing also includes the large scale activities of many of Australia’s agri-food companies, and some of these processes are extremely sophisticated and complex. Products range from bulk commodities to whey protein fractions and lactoferrin.
1 Mapping Australia’s Science and Innovation , Commonwealth of Australia 2003.
2 The Application of Biotechnology to Industrial Sustainability - A Primer, OECD, 2001.
3 Any large-scale operation involving the transformation of some raw material (biological or non-biological) into some product by means of microorganisms, animal or plant cell cultures, or by materials (eg. enzymes, organelles) derived from them may be termed a “bioprocess” (Christi & Moo-Young, 1991).
Note: Information concerning Australia's biotechnology capabilities contained on the Industry Subsector of this microsite, including the sectoral maps, was taken from material developed by the Biotechnology Liaison Committee (BLC) for a National Capability Statement on Biotechnology. The BLC which is chaired by Biotechnology Australia and includes representatives from all Australian State and Territory Governments, was tasked by Ministers and State Premiers in 2004 with developing a National Capability Statement for Australian biotechnology, in consultation with industry, research bodies, professional groups and other key stakeholders.
Australia is answering the increasing demand for biodegradable materials through undertaking sophisticated institutional and industry R&D in this area. Opportunities are likely to increase in areas such as biomaterials for medical products, biopolymers and a range of materials derived from waste products.
Capabilities in biomaterials are supported by a strong R&D base including CSIRO, the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) and three CRCs: Bioproducts; Sugar Industry Innovation through Biotechnology; and Polymers. This strong base also includes infrastructure and knowledge contained in universities, particularly in areas such as metabolic energy, biopolymer sciences, and ‘oil’ engineering. Current R&D includes a focus on bio-cements, bio-paints and bioantifouling materials.
Capabilities are also evidenced by Australian companies achieving global sales for bioproducts including specialist applications in marine paints, contact lens coating, and bioplastics.
There is also significant interaction between industry, universities, research institutions and spin-off companies.
Australia’s skills in the biomaterials sector include:
- gene and gene pathway manipulation for the production of value added industrial products;
- polymer expertise; and
- biomass processing.
There are opportunities for growth in the biomining sub-sector, with the creation of new domestic and international markets providing mining biotechnology solutions and improving environmental and production performance.
A strong industry platform exists already, including:
- a large and technologically advanced mining industry in Australia, with strong investment, infrastructure and expertise from which biomining can leverage; and
- Australian expertise in design, construction and operation in niche areas such as bio-oxidation plants.
In addition, Australia’s mega-diversity provides an opportunity for discovery of useful organisms to improve biomining processes.
Australia’s capabilities in biomining are confirmed by a range of factors including R&D, company activity, innovation and collaboration.
Leading R&D centres focusing on biomining include the AJ Parker CRC, which has significant international linkages; a joint project between the CRC for Sustainable Resource Processing and CSIRO’s Minerals and Forestry and Forest Products; CRC for Plant-Based Management of Dryland Salinity; and Western Australia’s Department of Conservation and Land Management.
Examples of Australia’s innovative biomining capabilities include processes for the bio-assisted extraction of metals from ores through:
- high intensity stirred/aerated bioreactors for concentrates used in five plants in Australia for processing gold (out of eight globally); and
- low intensity engineered bioleach heaps for low grade ores (Australia has five of eighteen worldwide copper sulphide heap leaching operations).
Other areas of biomining innovation include:
- research into the use of different bacteria/extremophiles to improve biomining processes;
- molecular technologies for optimising performance of organisms for a given application.
Collaboration is also a key factor underpinning Australia’s capabilities in biomining. Australia has the largest public domain R&D group in biomining in the world through the collaboration between CSIRO and AJ Parker CRC. Australia is also a partner in the largest international public domain R&D group, with the University of Cape Town in South Africa and the University of British Columbia, Canada.
In addition, capabilities are being strengthened through collaborations such as the Environmental Biotechnology Cooperative Research Centre (EBCRC) and CSIRO’s current projects on microbiological enhanced oil recovery that receive support from oil companies.
Currently Australia has an $8.1 billion trade deficit in chemicals and plastics1, which has grown at a rate of 0.4% over the five years between 1998-99 and 2003-04.
Biotechnology provides an opportunity for Australia to produce new chemicals and enzymes which can help reduce this deficit. Although relatively small in comparison with some countries, there is existing industry infrastructure at Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards and growing expertise in groups such as CSIRO Molecular Science as well as at universities including RMIT and UNSW.
Capabilities in chemicals and enzymes include strong R&D, company activity and skills. Key areas of research focus include:
- competitive optimisation techniques that have been developed in Australia;
- secretory expression systems, which provide higher yields and lower production costs, and are currently being developed in Australia to produce enzymes which cannot be produced economically at present; and
- R&D in fine chemical production via enzymes.
Company activity includes the production of speciality enzymes for many industries and sectors including food, pulp and paper, drug synthesis and forensic diagnostics. This sub-sector has strong links to agriculture for raw materials and has particular strengths in bioremediation and enzymes for pesticides.
Australia has strong skills in the area of biomolecular science in CSIRO and the universities, and particularly in molecular technologies for optimising performance of enzymes and other proteins. Australia’s strengths are also highlighted by links with agriculture, including Tasmania’s successful production of opiates.
Access to infrastructure for fermentation processes also supports capabilities in chemicals and enzymes, including a large facility in Melbourne (the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere)2.
1 As per Australia and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classifications (ANZIC)
2 www.zektin.com.au/zektin_contractfermentation.html
Emerging capabilities in industrial biotechnology
Australia has emerging capabilities in downstream processing and could be well placed to respond to a growing need for more products such as the supply of Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA). Whilst BSA is the first product of this kind to be commercialised, large scale manufacturing processes for several other bovine organ and plasma derived proteins are currently under development.
Other emerging opportunities include building on the impact of systems biology, to apply broader knowledge to outcomes from genome mapping and consider possible defence applications.
Biofuels
A range of opportunities exist for biofuels within the next five years. It will be important for Australia to retain current R&D capabilities so that as the cost of ethanol production comes down it is well positioned to enter world markets and be part of the product chain leading to higher value, biorefinery products.
Other important areas of emerging capabilities are:
- ethanol production from different source materials;
- biodiesel from canola;
- liquid hydrocarbons from algae;
- biosynthesis of cell walls; and
- use of integrated biorefinery capacity (being currently commissioned) to produce ethanol as well as higher value chemicals.
Looking to the next 10 years and beyond, emerging opportunities include:
- the development of bioreactors for hydrogen gas; and
- fostering emerging capabilities to build on significant opportunities for bioenergy from methane or directly through microbial fuel cells using waste.
Biomaterials
Australia has a range of emerging capabilities likely to support growth in the biomaterials sector, including in:
- proteins and polysaccharides;
- biomaterials for medical uses such as surgically-implanted devices or scaffolds, targeted drug delivery; and
- re–engineered microbes for better and faster production methods.
Australia’s capabilities in agricultural biotech, including the prospect of enhancing transgenic plants as improved feed stocks, may also strengthen our industrial biotech position in the medium term. CSIRO is one research organisation investigating the capacity of plants as “biofactories”, potentially providing farmers with new high value crops for new markets1.
CSIRO is looking at the potential for using poppies and oilseeds as biofactories to make pharmaceuticals or industrial raw materials. The advantages of biofactories include improving energy efficiency and reducing costs and industrial waste. Oilseeds, for example, could be engineered to contain special fatty acids that can replace petrochemical products used in the production of plastics, adhesives and surface coatings.
Biomining
Opportunities for growth in biomining include the creation of new markets by providing mining biotechnology solutions to improve environmental and production performance.
Emerging capabilities include:
- expanding existing capability for cleaner technologies for metal processing to cover additional metals (nickel and zinc) and further development of remote location insitu mining capacity (e.g. a longer term goal of in-situ bioleaching);
- building on universal low-cost technology for primary (refractory) copper sulphides, nickel, and zinc which can change uneconomic reserves to valuable resources;
- focusing on biodiscovery to identify novel microbes and novel enzymes; and
- conducting research into biometal compatibility.
Chemicals and enzymes
Cross-fertilisation of biological and chemical molecular sciences can provide new commercial and R&D opportunities.
In particular Australia has emerging capabilities in:
- predictive synthesis;
- metabolic engineering; and
- production of optically pure pharmaceuticals using biological means (with benefits including cost reduction).
There are also opportunities for growth of capabilities in:
- developing technologies and processes to replace conventional manufacturing routes for raw materials and other high-value chemicals;
- understanding pathway engineering for construction of superior microbes for particular substrates and products; and
- identifying medium to high-value chemicals as food additives (e.g. nutraceuticals) and/or specialist chemicals.
Food processing
Future opportunities in this area include greater international collaboration (particularly with Asia) to build on emerging capabilities in nutraceuticals. This is an area where growth is already occurring, but where Australia has the potential to lead the world in particular niche markets.
Other opportunities in food processing include:
- local production of active ingredients for drugs, including potentially growing vaccines and active ingredients in plants;
- algae biofermentation; and
- higher purity capacity (e.g. by building on quality raw materials).
1 New products from field ‘factories’ The Weekly Times 22 June 2005 |