When most people hear the word "biotechnology," they often think of cancer therapies, vaccines, or gene editing - achievements from the field of red biotechnology. The focus on red biotechnology often overshadows the broader, more colorful spectrum of this dynamic discipline. This narrow focus limits public perception and financial investment, leaving opportunities in promising fields such as industrial “white” biotechnology undervalued.
Biotechnology is a spectrum of innovation
When people hear "biotechnology," they often think of life-saving medicines, vaccines, or cutting-edge gene therapies. These are milestones of red biotechnology. But this medical focus often obscures the broader, vibrant landscape of biotechnological innovation.
Biotechnology is often described using colors, each of which represents a different field of application. Here are some of those colors:
- Red biotechnology focuses on medicine and health – from drug development to diagnostics.
- Green biotechnology revolutionizes agriculture for example through genetically optimized crops and sustainable farming methods.
- Blue biotechnology harnesses the potential of marine and aquatic ecosystems, for example using algae derived bioactive compounds for nutrition or pharma.
- White biotechnology, the quiet powerhouse, drives sustainability in industry – e.g. through bio-based processes, biofuels, biodegradable plastics, enzymes for cleaner production.
What unites all these areas is: their foundation in biology, technology, and interdisciplinary research – with real-world applications that shape our future.
As early as 2009, the WWF estimated that industrial biotechnology could help avoid up to 2.5 billion tons of CO₂-equivalent emissions annually by 2030 (Report: https://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/press_releases/?174202/Biotechnology-could-cut-C02-sharply-help-build-green-economy).
And the EU’s Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) stated that bio-based industries offer a huge potential to tackle societal and environmental challenges and additionally play an important role in stimulating sustainable growth and boosting Europe’s competitiveness by re-industrialising and revitalising rural and coastal areas, and by doing so, providing new job opportunities across Europe (Ana Ruiz Sierra et al. 2021: The bio-based industries joint undertaking: A high impact initiative that is transforming the bio-based industries in Europe. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbt.2020.09.003)
An opportunity hiding in plain sight – for the financial sector
Venture capital and institutional investments are essential for scaling biotechnological innovations. But despite its transformative power, white biotechnology remains under the radar of many investors. The reasons? Low public awareness, the fact that industrial innovations are less “visible” to end consumers than pharmaceuticals or food products and traditional financial metrics focusing on short-term returns and consumer-facing products.
Yet the value proposition is strong:
- Scalable green technologies for climate-resilient manufacturing
- Circular economy solutions that replace linear, waste-generating models
- Cost-effective alternatives to petrochemical dependency
These factors make industrial biotechnology a scientific opportunity and a sound, long-term investment in ecological and economic resilience. So, white biotechnology is not just good science – it’s smart business.
BRAIN Biotech: pioneers in industrial biotechnology
For over 30 years, BRAIN Biotech has been driving innovation in industrial biotechnology. Our mission is to find biological solutions that help our clients become more sustainable. From more than 200 R&D projects, here are some highlights:
- We developed bio-based detergent ingredients that reduce energy use by enabling lower washing temperatures.
- We replaced chemical synthesis processes with microbial production – even enabling CO₂-based feedstocks.
- We created enzymes for sustainable food production, and developed microbial alternatives to animal protein made via fermentation – reducing greenhouse gases like methane from livestock farming.
In a nutshell: Industrial biotechnology isn’t tomorrow’s technology – it’s today’s quiet revolution.
Industrial "white" biotechnology is not just an opportunity - it's a responsibility
It’s time to broaden our view and rethink what drives true progress. White biotechnology may work behind the scenes, but its impact is clear. It holds the key to a cleaner economy, resilient supply chains, and a planet that can sustain future generations. Investors who are ready to support technologies that yield returns and regenerate our world should take note:
Let’s stop limiting biotechnology to what cures the body and start embracing what can cure the planet!
Interested in industrial biotechnology in Germany? More insights and case studies at the bilingual platform Bioökonomie.de , an initiative by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space.
Header picture: Chris Martin, Pixabay, Creative Commons. Other pictures: BRAIN Biotech AG
