Industrial Biotechnology

We have two great challenges for you in the area of industrial biotechnology. Industrial biotechnology has been around a long time, whether it's using yeast to make beer or bacteria to make vinegar. However, today it can be used to make exciting new products such as flavours and fragrances, it can help us make new medicines or existing medicines with less waste and help us to find alternative ways to make products that are currently made from petroleum.

The biorefineries you see at Grangemouth utilise oil recovered from the ground to make a variety of fractions that can be used to make many of the products we use today from petrol and diesel to lubricants and plastics. Most people believe that we have nearly discovered all the readily available oil. Industrial biotechnology has the potential to replace many of these products from renewable sources such as plants and microorganisms. If we are able to do this we can make the petroleum supplies last longer and also reduce the release of carbon dioxide (CO2), that contribute to the greenhouse effect and climate change.

Find out about the Biofuel Challenge for 9-12 year olds

Find out about the Biorefinery Challenge for 13-16 years olds

To take part in either of these activities please register here