Role of Biotechnology in Advancing Circular Economy Principles

 By Dr Richa Priyadarshini, Associate Professor, Department of Life Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence, Delhi-NCR.

Biotechnology is increasingly poised to accelerate the transition from a petroleum-based linear economy to a sustainable and circular economy. Embracing the principles of a circular economy offers a promising approach to address the challenges faced by the agricultural sector.

The circular economy is a systematic approach that is dedicated to creating an economically sustainable system that optimises resources, recycles and reduces waste, and promotes environmental preservation. The United Nations has laid down the framework for sustainable development (SDGs), and the curricular economy is a major contributor. Microbes are crucial for a circular economy and contribute towards both the manufacturing of economic products and the recycling and degradation of waste materials. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation divides the circular economy into two halves: Technical and Biological. The technical side deals with non-biological resources entering the manufacturing cycle. Efficient use of resources and energy, sustainable design concepts for increasing the life of materials, and improving the reuse and recycling of materials all fall under the technical half. The other half of the circular economy consists of biological resources. Biotechnology and bio-based industries play a major role in transitioning from a linear to a sustainable circular economy. Many biotechnological interventions are helping to develop eco-friendly solutions for significant problems of pollution and food security. Some of them include biofuels, bioplastics, and biodegradation.

Sustainable Agriculture

Pesticides and chemical interventions are heavily employed in agriculture practices to meet the food requirements of the growing world population. These chemical interventions negatively impact soil and disturb the phosphorus and nitrogen cycles. Moreover, excessive use of chemical fertilisers leads to contamination of water and soil and is hazardous to human health. Biofertilisers and biopesticides are safer alternatives, which can contribute towards sustainable agriculture. Bacteria and fungi play an important role in sustainable agriculture. Plant-microbe interactions are known to be important for plant health and increase crop yields. Bioinoculants composed of microbes are used to promote plant growth. Plant growth-promoting microbes induce plant growth by nitrogen assimilation, phytohormones, and bioavailability of macro and microelements. Moreover, symbiotic plant microbes help plants resist pathogens and induce immune response by modulations of gene expression. These microbial interventions not only enhance plant yield but also aid in the remediation of degraded soils.

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 By Dr Richa Priyadarshini, Associate Professor, Department