Biotechnology : interim report on the protection of the research base in biotechnology. Sixth report, Session 1981-82 / [Education, Science and Arts Committee].

  • Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Education, Science, and Arts Committee.
Date:
1982
Catalogue details

Licence: Open Government Licence

Credit: Biotechnology : interim report on the protection of the research base in biotechnology. Sixth report, Session 1981-82 / [Education, Science and Arts Committee]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    APPENDIX I TO THE MEMORANDUM SUBMITTED BY Dr R E Spier As the resources are relatively small, transport costs make most processes uneconomic Consequently the facilities are in general small in scale and commercialisation may be difficult. The main R & D projects are: (a) Development of continuous alcohol fermenters using the membrane process. (b) Development of high temperature and high alcohol resistant yeast strains. (Reduction of alcohol distillation costs.) (c) Cell fusion technology. The 1980 total budget was Yen 1,367 million and the 1981 budget was Yen 1,791 million. The total projected cost is in excess of Yen 12,300 million (not all projects included) of which MITI is contributing 75 per cent. MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY & FISHERIES PROJECT The Biomass projects of the MAFF which commenced in 1981 are concerned with making the most effective use of biological resources. The projects do not include studies of large-scale energy systems or alcohol as these are covered by current MITI projects. A very important aspect is the utilisation of waste biological material. The project activi- ties inevitably cover a very wide field from process plant to enzyme technology to agri- culture. However, the MAFF project flow chart (the “grand plan’’) which is shown [diagram 3] indicates the inter-relations between the various project activities. The budget for 1981 was Yen 250 million and the total project is planned to run for ten years. The original planned budget was Yen 1,000 million per year for ten years. However, spending in year one was only Yen 250 million and the expected budget for 1982 is approximately Yen 300 million (24 per cent inciease). The final total budget might be of the order of Yen 5,000 million. Most of the R D and D will take place in MAFF laboratories but there will be some co-operation with industry and university departments. BIOMASS CONVERSION Essentially the MAFF Biomass Conversion Project is the conversion of raw material to useful products: FOOD ENERGY RAW MATERIAL——CONVERSION——ANIMAL FEED MEDICINES ETC Brief details of the various project stages are as follows: RAW MATERIAL Studies of existing agricultural resources and waste from food industry (tofu, crushed oranges, soybean and waste protein in general): Studies of new indigenous sources— particularly wood utilisation—and new resources not currently cultivated in Japan— possibly sweet sorghum from the USA: Evaluation of new agricultural systems (marine, forest, etc): Feasibility trials. PRETREATMENT As in all waste treatment the economics are strongly affected by collection, transport and pretreatment methods. Collection and transport technologies will be evaluated together with biological, physical and chemical pretreatment techniques. TREATMENT/CONVERSION Recombinant DNA technology will be studied as special project support for the biomass projects. There is particular interest in increasing enzyme yields in fermentation plants. Utilisation of animal waste materials for methane production in small areas or “‘diffuse”’ systems (essential difference from MITI projects). Utilisation of micro-organisms in the conversion of waste agricultural materials to food, animal feed, medicines, food additives