Skip to main content
European Commission
Knowledge4Policy (K4P)

Industrial biotechnology

  • Glossary item | Last updated: 04 Jan 2021

[Industrial biotechnology is] the application of biotechnology to the eco-efficient production and processing of chemicals, materials and bioenergy.

OECD, 2011, Future Prospects for Industrial Biotechnology

Source category: International Organisations


The manufacture of liquid fuels and chemical products using enzymes, micro-organisms, fermentation, or biocatalysis at any stage of production, regardless of the type of raw materials used. In this case, the raw materials can be biomass, fossil fuel-based, or inorganic substances.

USITC, 2008, Industrial Biotechnology: Development and Adoption by the U.S. Chemical and Biofuels Industry. United States Industry and Trade Commission, July 2008. http://www.usitc.gov/publications/332/pub4020.pdf

Source category: Agency Documents


Industrial biotechnology - also known as white biotechnology - uses enzymes and micro-organisms to make biobased products in sectors as diverse as chemicals, food and feed, detergents, paper and pulp, textiles and bioenergy.

KET, 2011, High-Level Group on Key Enabling Technologies 2011: KET Industrial Biotechnology, Working Group Report, the Sherpa Group and other stakeholders June 2010.

Source category: Scientific & Technical Literature

Privacy statements, terms and conditions.
You will be directed to the EU Login website where you can login/register as a user. Once connected, your credentials (First name, last name, username, email) will be registered in Knowledge4policy as part of your profile, which will allow you to get involved in all Knowledge4policy communities (help is available).

You are about to navigate to an external website. Please note that we are not responsible for its content.