White biotechnology:
future technology with a sustainable potential

The definition of the term "White Biotechnology", first presented at the EuropaBIO, speaks of "using nature's toolbox for industrial purposes". In other words: white biotechnology seeks out naturally occurring solutions and integrates these into industrial processes. White or industrial biotechnology will have a strong influence on many industrial sectors in the coming 10 to 30 years by helping to successfully implement a sustainable transformation process. The Cologne Paper, commissioned by the German Presidency of the European Council in 2007, discusses the economic prospects of white biotechnology and concludes that "white biotechnology and bio-energy products will have a one third share of total European industrial production by 2030, worth about € 300 billion".