MINSK, 30 August (BelTA) – Over $3 billion worth of biotechnology products have been made in Belarus in the last five years, BelTA learned from Emilia Kolomiyets, Director General of the R&D group Chemical Synthesis and Biotechnologies, Director of the Microbiology Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB).
According to the source, an essential breakthrough in biotechnologies has been secured in the last few years. Various kinds of biotechnology products worth over $3 billion were made in Belarus in the last five years. Over 170 modern biotechnologies were created over the course of five years. As many as 12 existing manufacturing facilities were upgraded. Eight centers and labs were established as well as nine new enterprises and 39 biotechnology manufacturing facilities.
White and green biotechnologies that cater to the production sector and agriculture are most advanced in Belarus. “Those are primarily biodiesel and biogas. These areas are very actively developing. I think in the future efforts will focus on biofuel such as bioethanol and biobutanol. As far as agriculture is concerned, modern farming technologies are being created using biotechnology advances and techniques designed to improve productiveness,” noted the director of the Microbiology Institute.
Certain accomplishments have been secured in the area of red biotechnology, which is related to biopharmaceutics and biomedicine. “Cell biotechnologies, genome biotechnologies are widely used. Our microbe biotechnologies have moved on, in particular, the synthesis of ferments such as nucleic acids, which are vital for making pharmaceutical substances and ready-made medications. All of it allows us to create original medications,” added Emilia Kolomiyets.
Microbial drug with various applications account for a considerable part of the biotechnology products made in Belarus. Agriculture uses biological crop protection agents, microbial fertilizers, probiotics, biological decontaminants, biological preservation agents for vegetable raw materials, ferment products, fodder protein, amino acids, and vitamins. Power engineering industry uses various kinds of biofuel such as biobutanol, bioethanol, biodiesel, and biogas. Healthcare industry uses raw materials for pharmaceutical industry, biopharmaceutic technologies, and diagnostic preparations. Food industry uses yeast, sugar substitutes, food additives, and organic acids.
