Sustainable Development
Overview
This section looks at how biotechnology helps producers and manufacturers satisfy today's product needs while preserving the ability to meet those needs in the future. It examines how biotechnology and biotechnology-derived applications provide industries with tools to enhance the sustainability of products, thereby facilitating the attainment of sustainable development goals.
Sustainable development refers to the ability of producers and manufacturers to satisfy product needs of today while preserving the ability to meet those needs in the future. Specifically, it aims to reduce the rate at which natural resources are being used, reduce the amount of pollution created, and provide enough products, such as food, to satisfy the needs of the population. The concept of sustainable development recognizes the interdependent nature of the economy, environment, and society. The result is that sustainable development initiatives are being carried out by all sectors of society, including consumers, government, and industry.
Sustainable development has come to the forefront of debate in recent years; however, it is not a new idea. Throughout history, different cultures have realized the needs for a balance between the environment, society, and economy. The modern idea of sustainable development builds on these ideas, and places them in the context of today's society.
In 1962, Silent Spring by Rachel Carson made people realize how closely development, and environment are actually linked. The book illustrated that the environment could not continuously absorb pollutants and remain healthy. This work opened the door for a rapid development of ideas about sustainable development.
The 1980s saw the introduction of another influential publication, "Our Common Future," also known as the Bruntland Report. This report was the first to tie together all the ideas of sustainable development, and provide direction for possible global solutions. It also popularized the term sustainable development.
In 1992, world leaders met in Rio de Janeiro for the UN Conference on Environment, also known as the Earth Summit. The conference addressed the pressing environmental problems of today and also aimed to prepare the world for the challenges of the next century. Topics covered dealt with establishing agreements on critical issues such as climate change and deforestation.
Building on the Rio de Janeiro meeting, world leaders met again in 1997 in Kyoto, Japan. 160 countries, including Canada, agreed on a global treaty, known as the Kyoto Protocol, to limit the production of greenhouse gases. Before the Protocol is legally binding, the participant countries must ratify it.
Human activity has a profound impact on the world's environment. Human activity includes industrial activities such as manufacturing, agriculture, mining, forestry, and fishing. There is a recognition nationally, regionally, and globally that the amount of waste and pollution created by human activity must be reduced on a large scale. Sustainable industrial practices are one way by which humans can strive to achieve this goal on a global basis. It is hoped that sustainable development can be used to balance the needs of industry, society, and the environment.
Sustainability of Biotechnology Products
What is Sustainable Development and Sustainability?
Sustainable development refers to the ability of producers and manufacturers to satisfy product needs of today while preserving the ability to meet those needs in the future. The sustainability of a product refers to its ability to meet to goals of sustainable development. Biotechnology and biotechnology-derived applications provide industries with tools to enhance the sustainability of products, thereby facilitating the attainment of sustainable development goals.
Sustainable development aims to reduce waste and environmental pollution, as well as decrease energy and resource consumption. In order to be sustainable, biotechnology-derived applications must be economically feasible and socially responsible in addition to being environmentally friendly – they must present a cost advantage, monetary or otherwise, before they may be accepted by industry.
Even though biotechnology-derived applications may reduce manufacturing costs and improve profitability, there are many companies that rely instead upon traditional production methods, be it because they are unaware of biotechnology's industrial applications, or because they remain cautious of biotechnology use in industry.
Biotechnology-derived applications are generally more environmentally friendly than existing industrial methods. They can also reduce production costs, promote production efficiency, and improve product quality. In industry, biotechnology-derived applications accomplish these goals through the following methods:
What is Industry's Role in Sustainable Development?
Although achieving sustainable development requires all members and parts of society to contribute, creating sustainable industries is a key element in ensuring overall sustainable development. Sustainable industrial development can be achieved if the three requirements, economic, environmental and social, are applied to shape the processes by which industry and the economy grow.
The concept of sustainable industry takes the overall principles of sustainable development and applies them specifically to industry and industrial practices. In order to be sustainable, industry must meet the three requirements outlined below.
At a very basic level, sustainable industrial development means doing more with less – increasing the eco-efficiency of industrial production. A major way of accomplishing this is through cleaner production. Cleaner production is the development of "cleaner" industrial processes and products which reduce their impact on the environment, while not compromising profitability. In many cases, cleaner production practices save the industry money! Biotechnology is being used as a tool to develop these cleaner production processes.
Biotechnology helps the environment through the development of such technologies as biofiltration and bioremediation. By these processes, natural bacteria are used to replace harsh chemicals in the treatment and breakdown of waste material. Natural bacteria can also be used to convert waste into useful materials or energy sources. These are not only environmentally friendly strategies for reducing waste and pollution, but they can speed up treatment processes, reduce costs, and make use of industrial byproducts which would otherwise be discarded as waste.
Learn more about Biotechnology and the Environment
Sustainability of Biotechnology Applications in Food and Agriculture
Biotechnology-derived applications in food and agriculture include the use of biopesticides and the development of genetically modified (GM) plants.
Instead of using harsh chemical pesticides, biopesticides derived from natural materials may be used to control insects and other pests that devastate crops, such as pesticides that contain baculoviruses, which are used to control insects like the spruce budworm. This is not only an environmentally friendly alternative, but it may also be a more effective one because biopesticides can control pests that conventional chemical pesticides sprays cannot. Biopesticides also specifically target certain pests – instead of killing organisms indiscriminately, biopesticides have minimal effects on other species and the environment.
The genetic modification of plants produces food crops that have improved or enhanced characteristics, such as pest/disease tolerance, improved nutrient content, better taste/appearance, or the ability to remain fresh for longer periods of time. Genetically modified (GM) crops include corn, soy, and cotton, as well as many vegetables.
Both GM plants and biopesticides support more efficient crop production methods and may decrease production costs. They are not allowed to be used unless they are first tested and approved for safety. The proper handling and labelling of genetically modified foods promotes social responsibility in producers and ensures that consumers can make informed decisions when purchasing such produce.
Learn more about Biotechnology in Agriculture
Biotechnology is used in the development of vaccines, diagnostic tests, medicines, and medical treatments. In addition to more effective treatments, biotechnology's contributions to the medical field include improved methods for illness prevention, and the ability to detect health problems earlier. Not only is this directly beneficial to human health, but it may also reduce health care costs, provide earlier disease intervention, and shorten treatment times.
Biotechnology also benefits drug development by increasing the efficiency and focus of pharmaceutical research and manufacturing. More effective medicines and medical treatments could aid in lowering health care costs, which would help more people gain better access to health care. Improved medical treatments and health care access have the potential to decrease mortality rates and disease occurrence, thereby improving the overall health and productivity of the workforce and benefiting individuals, companies, and the Canadian economy.
Learn more about Biotechnology and Healthcare
Sustainability of Biotechnology Applications in Industry
There are two main uses of biotechnology in industry. Firstly, fossil fuels and other non-renewable resources may be replaced by renewable sources of biomass, as discussed above. Secondly, harsh chemicals may be replaced with biological organisms, such as bacteria, to speed up the chemical reactions used in the production of industrial products.
Through biotechnology, harsh chemicals may be replaced with more environmentally-friendly natural organisms, causing a reduction in pollution and energy consumption during the manufacturing process. Biotechnology also promotes the production of more environmentally friendly products, such as biodegradable plastics made from plant raw materials. Using corn or other biomass feedstocks instead of petroleum would address economic and social concerns by reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels.
Biotechnology-derived applications are sustainable because they increase efficiency in industrial production methods. Biotechnology improves industrial efficiency by reducing costs and increasing gains for both producers and consumers. This is accomplished though four main methods:
Learn more about Biotechnology and Industry
Through biotechnology, increasing the number of industrial processes that use renewable resources instead of petroleum based materials could lead to a mass reduction in air pollution. Non-renewable resources, such as petroleum, can be replaced by plant raw materials and other biomass feedstocks for the production of more environmentally friendly liquid fuels. For example, gasoline blended with ethanol can significantly reduce the pollution released by cars into the environment and increase fuel energy efficiency.
In forestry, biotechnology is applied through the use of biopesticides to preserve and protect forests, as well as through the production of genetically modified (GM) trees. GM trees have been genetically changed to develop desirable characteristics, such as improved wood quality and pest/disease resistance. Biopesticides and GM trees help preserve the environment by protecting forests against diseases and pests. In the future, they could play a role in improved forest conservation methods and increased forest productivity.
Learn more about Biotechnology and Natural Resources
Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) "Guide to Biotechnology – Industrial Applications." Bio.org. www.bio.org/er/industrial.asp April 2002.
Dubuis, Benoit. (2002). What on earth is biotechnology, a picture book. Retrieved Oct. 2, 2002 from the Bioweb.ch Biotechnology Information Web site: www.bioweb.ch/en/guides/general
Emissions Impact of Ethanol. (n.d.). Retrieved Oct. 7, 2002 from the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association Web site: www.greenfuels.org/emissionimpact.html
Hainsworth, Jeremy. "Canada Facing Dilemma Over Kyoto Protocol." The Nando Times. www.nando.net/healthscience/v-text/story/307251p-2661909c.html April 2002.
Industrial and Environmental Applications. (n.d). Retrieved Oct. 2, 2002 from the Biotechnology Industry Organization Website.
International Institute for Sustainable Development. "A Guide to Kyoto: Climate Change and What it Means for Canadians." International Institute for Sustainable Development. 1998.
OECD. (2001). The Application of Biotechnology to Industrial Sustainability – Sustainable Development. Retrieved Sept. 23, 2002 from the OECD Web site: www.oecd.org/publications/e-book/9301061E.pdf
OECD. (2002). Sustainable Development. Retrieved Oct. 7, 2002 from the OECD Web site: www.oecd.org/EN/home/0..EN-home-21-nodirectorate-no-no--21,00.html
OECD. "Industrial Sustainability Through Biotechnology." OECD. 1998.
OECD Taskforce on Biotechnology for Sustainable Development. "The Application of Biotechnology to Sustainable Development." OECD. 2001.
Quick Facts. (n.d.). Retrieved Oct. 7, 2002 from the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association Web site.
Sustainable Development Gateway. "Sustainable Development Timeline." SD Gateway. sdgateway.net/introsd/timeline.htm. April 2002.
The Role of Biotechnology in Industrial Sustainability 16-17 May 2002 Antwerp Belgium Conference Objectives. (n.d.). Retrieved June 18, 2002, from www.innovation.flanders.be/confe/industrial_biotechnology/objectives.htm.