From Frankenfood to Super Crops: How Bioengineering is turning the tables on how we produce things
If the 20th century was propelled by petrochemicals (plastics, fertilizer, concrete, cosmetics), the 21st century will be powered by bioengineering.
Organisms are increasingly used to create new products (notably due to the advances on the understanding of CRISPR). We now know that microorganisms can be cultivated to create cell-based meat (Mosa Meat), dairy (Bon Vivant) or any protein really (Gourmey) but we’re on the brink of a general revolution on how we actually make things. Biomass can replace petroleum to produce fuel, enzymes can convert waste into valuable minerals, and cells can be programmed to cure diseases. Everywhere, bioengineering is opening new opportunities and is paving the way for radically more sustainable and local production.
While this sounds like sci-fi, I wanted to cast light on 4 startups that are actually already changing how we produce chemicals, fight air pollution and mine rare minerals.
Solugen — Decarbonizing chemistry with enzymes
Valued at over $2bn, Solugen is using enzymes to produce chemicals in a decarbonized way. While chemical companies have historically used petroleum, natural gas and phosphates to make their products, the team replaces these ingredients with a simple resource: sugar. Its offering already includes a chemical to make concrete stronger, an additive to make fertilizer more efficient and detergents for facial wipes. On top of being cheaper and much more sustainable, what I find fascinating about Solugen is that it helps us reshore critical supply chains. As most chemicals today are imported from China, Solugen actually makes chemicals from domestic ingredients (here: corn syrup). Its factories are much safer, and its first bioforge has been ironically set up on top of a former oil refinery that exploded in 2005 . Instead of associating the industry with toxic and unsafe conditions, with the need of setting up factories in remote areas, bioengineering could bring production sites much closer to cities.
Living Carbon — Supertrees to fight climate change.
Growing trees is the cheapest way to draw down CO2. Yet,, the planet loses 25 million acres of forest each year to fire, agriculture, harvesting, and pests, and we are far from planting enough new trees to be net positive. As a result of other changes to the climate system, it also appears that forests’ capacity to retain carbon is decreasing. It’s no longer enough to plant new trees. We have to develop trees that grow taller, faster, stronger.
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While everybody knows about photosynthesis, Living Carbon is taking the process much further. The team is basically designing trees that grow faster and absorb twice more carbon than their natural peers. Its photosynthesis-enhanced forest is now live in Georgia. On top of revenues from traditional timber exploitation, Living Carbon also sells certified, nature-based carbon credits.
Neoplants — plants as air purifiers
Neoplants are genetically modifying houseplants so that they can absorb specific, well-spread indoor air pollutants that can’t be captured by traditional air purifiers. While the plants are already available for pre-order, the team is working on adding new properties and enhancing carbon capture and storage.
Genomines — Recover metal from plants.
Mineral extraction is one of the most polluting industries, responsible for 7% of GHG emissions, and generates devastating levels of water and soil contamination. However, nickel and other metals are critical to the global movement of electrification.
Genomines figured that, if demand for nickel will grow exponentially in the upcoming years, relying on traditional, slow, polluting mining processes won’t be enough. The startup is reinventing metal extraction by enhancing plants’ natural biology. Its enhanced hyperaccumulator plants can mine metals from different mining waste streams. Nickel mines, instead of destroying mountain tops, might soon look like an endless plant field.
Many bottlenecks still hold back these technologies from scaling: a lack of production infrastructure (bioreactors) and data tools to optimize processes from lab to production but I’m bullish there is plenty of room to reinvent bioprocesses.
If you’re working on this topic or know someone who is, feel free to ping me :)
