Biotechnology cost savings

The economic benefits alone are also driving the adoption of biotechnology. BASF has reduced the production process for Vitamin B2 from eight steps to one through biotechnology, while DSM s bioroute for Cephalexin has also substantially reduced the number of process steps. These examples and those of dozens of pharmaceutical intermediates demonstrate that cost savings of 50 percent and more are not unlikely. The savings may come directly from lower variable costs, but also from reduced capital expenditures for simpler production assets, or from reduced scale and therefore lower risk, transportation costs, and/or overcapacity. 

A subtle but important benefit of biotechnology is the use of genetic probes and tests based on the polymerase chain reaction to screen for and identify pathogens in foods. The economics could result in 40 billion/year cost savings as a result of reduced illness. Clearly, these are public benefits from many of the biotechnology-derived products that are currently available and will become available in the next century. As more sophisticated products become available, the benefits should continue to increase. Biotechnology very likely offers the best answer to respond to society s demands for plentiful new food varieties. These foods must be appetizing, nutritious, safe and healthy with minimal envirotunental... 

H. Dijkman, C.J.N. Buisman and H.G. Bayer, Biotechnology in the Mining and Metallurgical Industries Cost Savings through Selective Precipitation of Metal Sulphides. Conner 99 - Cobre 99. Volume IV. D.B. Dreisinger et al., Eds., The Minerals, Metals and Materials Society, Warrendale, PA, U.S.A., 1999, 113-126. 

Downstream processing of riboflavin from fermentation is straightforward, as the product precipitates from the fermentation broth. The crystals are collected by differential centrifuging and a pure product is obtained after repeated crystallization [143]. Roche has replaced its chemical production of riboflavin by the biotechnological process in 2000, with a 50% savings in production costs [54] as well as a 75% reduction in the use of non-renewable materials and very significantly reduced emissions into the environment [144]. 

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