What new choices can synthetic biotechnology bring to life?

The report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China put forward: "establish a big food concept" and "build a diversified food supply system"
.
To practice the concept of big food, we must first establish the concept of big resources, not only emphasize the rationality of resource utilization, but also pay attention to the principle
of sustainability and ecological priority.
At present, the synthetic biology technology of global attention is expected to become an important supporting technology
for realizing this concept because of its "efficient, low-carbon, green and environmental protection" characteristics.

What exactly is "synthetic biology"? In summary, synthetic biology, known as the "third biotechnology revolution", is a transformative technology
that integrates biology, engineering and informatics.
Synthetic biomanufacturing designs, transforms and reconstructs cell factories through engineering thinking, in order to obtain low-energy, more environmentally friendly, renewable bio-based products, and its related applications have been realized
in many fields such as agri-food, medicine and medical treatment, environmental protection, energy and new materials.
By accelerating the industrial application of synthetic biology in food and the development of food functional components, it can promote green biomanufacturing in China's food field and help achieve
the goal of dual carbon.
McKinsey estimates that there will be a vast market of $30 trillion in synthetic biology
.
It is estimated that between 2030 and 2040, synthetic biology technology will bring 2 trillion-4 trillion US dollars in direct economic benefits
to the world every year.

So, how far is synthetic biology manufacturing from our daily lives? In 2022, the Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences achieved de novo synthesis of carbon dioxide to starch for the first time in the world, achieving a milestone leap in synthetic biology technology; Although the scientific significance of this technology is far greater than the industrial value, it allows us to clearly see the bright future
of biomanufacturing in the context of "carbon neutrality".
Anhui Huaheng Biotechnology Co.
, Ltd.
, a listed company, has become a leading stock in China's synthetic biology concept, and its good business performance supports the company all the way up; Sichuan Yingjia Hesheng Technology Co.
, Ltd.
, which focuses on synthetic biology to manufacture natural ingredients, is the first in China to realize the synthetic biological manufacturing of natural sweetener steviol glycosides, which makes it possible
for large-scale production and commercial application of rare steviol glycosides with low content and good taste in nature.
In the view of He Zhou, the company's marketing director, synthetic biology technology has achieved more consumption
of green and healthy products.
In addition to natural sweeteners, vanillin, which is widely used in food, can also use synthetic biotechnology to turn "petrochemical-based" into "plant-based", which not only meets the huge market demand, but also ensures that the product is green and natural, while reducing carbon emissions
.

In recent years, with the development of genetic engineering, cell metabolism engineering, directed evolution and other technologies, the development
of synthetic biological manufacturing has accelerated.
The 14th Five-Year Plan for the Development of the Bioeconomy issued by the National Development and Reform Commission in May this year clearly stated that efforts should be made to expand and strengthen the bioeconomy, and by 2025, the bioeconomy will become a strong driving force
for high-quality development.
Under the impetus of policies, the bioeconomy is accelerating to become a new economic form after the information economy, and is profoundly changing human production and lifestyle
.

(Style)

Responsible editor: Xiao Zhihan Review: Ouyang Meihua