A bio-based economy is just around the corner, a new study by the Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute (GDI) has suggested, given recent technological breakthroughs such as the use of bacteria to decompose plastic waste and the storage of digital data in plant DNA.
The study, The age of biology – how the relationship between humans, nature and technology is changing, suggests that biology will emerge as a key technology over the coming decades, with animal-free meat, fuel made from algae and concrete made from bacteria becoming commonplace.
According to a separate report by Schmidt Futures, the global bio-economy could be worth between $4 trillion and $30 trillion by 2030.
Eco-Centric Values
As part of the study, the GDI carried out a survey in Switzerland, which pointed to a shift in values from an anthropocentric world view to an eco-centric one, with the rise of ESG awareness and the benefits of a circular economy.
It found that a significant majority of respondents (90%), irrespective of age, gender, or education level, feel a strong connection with nature, and many support the idea of granting nature a legal personality.
The survey also showed that close to two thirds (63.4%) of participants believe all living beings are equal and oppose any hierarchy among species. A small minority (13.3%) consider humans to be superior within a natural hierarchy, while only 2.3% think humans are above nature.
Additionally, 94.7% expressed sadness over the destruction of nature and believe in protecting it for its own sake, with few supporting the idea that nature exists solely for human use.
Regarding environmental protection, 46.4% of respondents favour safeguarding nature from human intervention and oppose developing new, previously untouched areas.
Approach To Biotechnology
‘However, the Swiss population approaches biotechnology and synthetic biology with caution and a keen awareness of potential risks,’ the report claimed.
‘On the one hand, the survey results show that biotechnological methods for repairing environmental damage and overcoming health problems enjoy majority support. However, half the respondents consider the use of biotechnology to be risky, especially with regard to misuse or accidents.’
Further information about the study can be found here.
