Abstract
Dear Colleagues:
During the recent Biotechnology Innovation Organization's (BIO) 2018 World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology, and while my reading the articles for this issue of Industrial Biotechnology, I kept thinking about Charles C. Mann's new book The Wizard and the Prophet. 1 Mann's book is biographic in that he tells the story of two influential scientists: the agriculturist Dr. Norman Borlaug and the ecologist Mr. William Vogt. These two scientists brought two distinct and contrasting perspectives on sustainable human development. Borlaug, the Wizard, represents the belief that we can deploy science and technology to innovate our way out of evolving sustainability challenges, while Vogt, the Prophet, represents the belief that we need to live within the biological limits of our planet. Both men understood that uncontrolled population growth would tax the ability of our biosphere to support human development. Mann uses the different perspectives of the Wizard and the Prophet to explore many of the sustainability challenges facing our world today.
As I worked my way through the Mann's book I was trying to decide whether I was a wizard or prophet. My scientific and engineering education tends to place me in the wizard camp, but I am also part of the generation that has been influenced by books such as Limits to Growth 2 and by the environmental movement. As I thought about it, I realize that I am a bit of both—and that many members of our innovation community are a mix of wizard and prophet. This should not be surprising because many of our innovators came of age during the environmental/sustainability movement. They understand industrial biotechnology innovation is done in response to multiple social needs, including the need to address sustainability challenges. Yes, we are excited about the science and technology, such as CRISPR, that are creating unprecedent opportunities to edit genes, but we know that social acceptance of the products of this technology will be critical to moving these products into the marketplace.
Climate change was not a focus of the Wizard or the Prophet, but their perspectives have been part of the debate on how we address this challenge. Not surprising, these perspectives have played out in the pages of IB, and in this issue we have two features on climate change. The first is an Industry Report from our colleagues at EuropaBio, entitled “Industrial Biotechnology—Contributing Towards Achieving the UN Global Sustainability Development Goals,” which underscores the role of industrial biotechnology innovation in addressing climate change and a number of other sustainability and social issues. Also, we have a piece from retired German chemist, Dr. Manfred Ringpeil, entitled “Climate Stability and Fossil Carbon-Based Energy Production—Unbreakable Opposites?” Dr. Ringpeil makes the case that industrial biotechnology can help address climate stability by providing substitutes to fossil carbon-based fuels and by sequestering carbon via photosynthesis. Carbon recycling through agricultural-based bioindustries has been core to the wizardry and prophesies of our innovation community.
Another theme from Mann's book is regional acceptance of technological solutions. This is illustrated in Mann's story of the reception of Mexican red wheat in India during the mid-60's. The taste, texture, color, and smell of chapati, an unleavened Indian flatbread, when made from Mexican wheat was foreign to Indians and not readily accepted. It took some local innovation by an Indian wizard, Dr. M. S. Swaminathan (1987 recipient of the World Food Prize), to find a technical solution to this problem. The take-home message is that regional and cultural differences must be considered in how we innovate to meet societal needs. This is one of the reasons that IB publishes regional industrial biotechnology content like the Commentary by P. Bennet and M. Harnett, of Scion (Rotorua, New Zealand), entitled “Bioindustry Down Under.” Our New Zealand colleagues share their perspective on how the temperate climate, driven by southern Pacific Ocean, creates an environment well-suited for the development of forest-based bioindustries—yes, all biomass is local! These regional stories are important to share with our readers. To help capture more of these stories, IB is adding to its editorial team a group of Associate Editors who are thought leaders in different regions of the world (See our “Introduction to the Industrial Biotechnology Associate Editors” feature).
We have a diverse set of wizards and prophets in our innovation community, and each year BIO recognized individuals that have contributed much to our community successes. BIO's Georgia Washington Carver Award and the Rosalind Franklin Award are given to individuals who have made significant contributions to our community. The 2018 recipient of the George Washington Carver Award is Dr. Sang Yup Lee, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST; Daejeon, South Korea). Dr. Lee is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at KAIST and is a global leader in the field of systems metabolic engineering. We are pleased to offer an interview with him in this issue. Ms. Krysta Harden, Corteva Agriscience, Agriculture Division of DowDuPont, is the 2018 recipient of the Rosalind Franklin Award for Leadership in Industrial Biotechnology and Agriculture. Ms. Harden is Vice President of External Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer at Corteva, and she has been a tireless champion for diversity in the agricultural science.
BIO World Congress has been a unique venue for tapping into the insights and perspectives of our industrial biotechnology wizards and prophets, and this year was no acceptation. Paul Zorner, Ph.D., President and CEO, Locus Agricultural Solutions, LLC moderated a panel on “Developing Microbial Solutions to Advance Sustainable Agricultural Productivity.” The panelists Donald Marvin, President and CEO, Concentric Ag; Janne Kerovou, Vice President, Research and Discovery, NewLeaf Symbiotics; and myself were contributors to IB's June 2018 “In Depth” issue on this topic. This panel discussion provided a unique opportunity to expand on some of the challenges and opportunities for microbial solutions in agricultural production.
The wizards and prophets in our innovation community are expanding our scientific and technological knowledge base through their original research activities, and we are fortunate to be able to share some of the discoveries and applications coming out of this research. Our research contributors are addressing challenges associated with the production of important industrial enzymes such as pectin methylesterase, chitinase and lipase, and exploring how algae can be used as a biofertilizer and plant growth stimulant. The original research content in this issue comes from researchers from around the world and represent many different scientific and technological disciplines.
I need to end this Editorial with a thank you to my BIO colleagues for awarding me their 2018 Leadership and Legacy Award. I deeply appreciate and value this recognition from our community of wizards and prophets!