White Biotechnology

White biotechnology–also known as industrial biotechnology–is the term used to describe production processes that are primarily based on natural, biological resources. It includes fermentative and enzymatic processes that offer both economically and environmentally promising alternatives to traditional chemical synthesis. A key technology of the 21st century, white biotechnology taps the potential of renewable raw materials for industrial manufacturing processes and products, thereby reducing our dependence on conventional resources, or enabling us to use them more efficiently.

With the help of microorganisms or enzymes produced from them, syntheses can also be carried out at room temperature and normal pressure. The use of enzymes and microorganisms is already indispensable to a number of industries, including nutrition, animal feed, paper, pulp, textiles, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, medicine–and specialty chemicals.
The raw materials for this promising technology are renewable agricultural products. From vegetable oil (e.g., rapeseed oil) to starches (e.g., corn), there is much waiting to be used.

There are other biotechnologies in addition to the "white" variety. “Red” biotechnology is concerned with the manufacture of medically valuable macromolecules, such as therapeutic proteins and vaccines; “green” biotechnology involves the development of new plant varieties for food production and industrial production; "blue" biotechnology is focused on protecting aquatic life and using it in production processes.