Speaking at BlueCity

On September 2nd, 2020, How to Biodesign #7 was hosted at BlueCity about the role of genetic modification in a circular economy and I was one of the speakers of that month. BlueCity is a circular city in Rotterdam where a circular economy is being created with researchers, teachers, creators and city farmers. Biotechnology can play a big role in the circular economy by employing processes to recycle things we don’t use. Bioprocessing employs what are called feedstock, and these feedstock can be left over biomass (like food wastes, or agricultural wastes, or any type of carbon-based things we don’t use) to make things we need.

When I speak to a broad audience about biotechnology, I point out there are generally three aspects to take into account: Safety/Security, Justice, and our relationship to Nature. If we investigate under each point how a biotech innovation can create issues, and look for ways to deal with these issues, then we can more responsibly introduce these in society. It’s of course more complicated than this in practice :)