生物制造:以生命为动力的未来工厂(院士讲科普)
Ren Min Ri Bao·2025-12-12 22:00

Core Viewpoint - Biomanufacturing is emerging as a transformative industry that utilizes living organisms to produce essential materials, marking a shift from traditional manufacturing methods reliant on fossil fuels to more sustainable practices using renewable resources [5][6]. Group 1: Definition and Importance of Biomanufacturing - Biomanufacturing involves using microorganisms, animal, or plant cells to produce desired substances by designing and controlling their metabolic pathways [5]. - This industry combines traditional fermentation techniques with synthetic biology, allowing for the production of pharmaceuticals, flavors, plastics, and fuels from renewable resources like sugar and carbon dioxide [5][6]. - It is considered a future industry because it represents a new manufacturing path driven by life, rather than an extension of traditional industries [5]. Group 2: Environmental and Economic Impact - Biomanufacturing is crucial for achieving carbon neutrality goals, as it utilizes renewable resources instead of fossil fuels, enabling a "carbon cycle" approach [6]. - Predictions suggest that by 2050, approximately 60% of industrial products could be produced through biomanufacturing, potentially generating an economic value exceeding $30 trillion [6]. Group 3: Current Developments in China - China is accelerating its biomanufacturing industry, with government reports emphasizing the need to cultivate new growth engines, including biomanufacturing [7]. - The country has established leading advantages in fermentation capacity, industrial scale, and engineering experience, positioning itself favorably in the future development of this industry [7]. Group 4: Innovations and Applications - Biomanufacturing is reshaping traditional production logic, enabling the cultivation of lab-grown meat and the production of microbial proteins and synthetic dairy products without livestock [8]. - In the fashion industry, biomanufacturing offers sustainable alternatives, such as bio-silk and mycelium leather, which can replace petroleum-based textiles [8]. - In construction, "bio-bricks" made from fungal mycelium and mineral particles can self-repair and absorb carbon dioxide, contributing to eco-friendly building practices [8]. Group 5: Challenges and Future Trends - Key challenges include the need for foundational capabilities in gene editing, strain design algorithms, and metabolic pathway databases, which are currently weak in China [10]. - The transition from laboratory success to industrial application faces hurdles, including process complexity and cost control [11]. - Future trends indicate a convergence of artificial intelligence with biomanufacturing, enhancing the design of living organisms, and a shift towards carbon circular manufacturing, where factories can utilize carbon dioxide as a raw material [12].