Where I can see synthetic bio making a real difference is in waste-to-chemicals or the like -- removing an environmental liability while producing something of value.
Around here there is a company that takes flue gas from cement plants (CO2-rich) and feeds it into bioreactors to grow huge amounts of algal biomass -- the strain selected produces some kind of nutraceutical, which they extract and sell commercially. The cement company gets some kind of carbon capture credit, or at least warm fuzzy feelings.
Similarly, synthetic bio to do things like recover trace valuable metals from tailings, sewage upcycling to fine chemicals by fermentation, etc. can be worthwhile.
I tend to agree with you that fine chemicals to fine chemicals via a synthetic bio route is not going to be a winning proposition if there are already perfectly good industrial processes.
Great one, Tony! I thoroughly enjoyed the substance as well as style of this article. :)
Where I can see synthetic bio making a real difference is in waste-to-chemicals or the like -- removing an environmental liability while producing something of value.
Around here there is a company that takes flue gas from cement plants (CO2-rich) and feeds it into bioreactors to grow huge amounts of algal biomass -- the strain selected produces some kind of nutraceutical, which they extract and sell commercially. The cement company gets some kind of carbon capture credit, or at least warm fuzzy feelings.
Similarly, synthetic bio to do things like recover trace valuable metals from tailings, sewage upcycling to fine chemicals by fermentation, etc. can be worthwhile.
I tend to agree with you that fine chemicals to fine chemicals via a synthetic bio route is not going to be a winning proposition if there are already perfectly good industrial processes.