Biokäyttöä

Biokäyttöä is the use of biological resources in production, services, and research. It denotes processes and activities that convert living matter, microorganisms, enzymes, or genetic material into products, energy, or knowledge. It is a core element of the bioeconomy, which seeks renewable, biologically derived alternatives to fossil resources, and is often discussed together with the Finnish term biotalous.

Sectors where biokäyttöä is relevant include food and feed, medicine and pharmaceuticals, industrial biotechnology, energy, materials, and environmental management. Examples range from fermentation-based production of amino acids and enzymes for detergents to biobased plastics, biofuels, and microbial synthesis of pharmaceuticals. It also covers agricultural inputs such as biostimulants and soil amendments.

Principles guiding biokäyttöä emphasize sustainability, resource efficiency, and life-cycle assessment. The goal is to reduce environmental footprint, promote a circular economy, and ensure safety and ethical considerations in handling biological systems and materials.

Regulation and ethics are important aspects, particularly in Finland and the European Union. Biosafety, environmental impact assessments, and regulatory approvals govern many activities, while intellectual property, access and benefit sharing, and public transparency are also relevant considerations.

Challenges and outlook include balancing innovation with biodiversity protection, achieving scalable and cost-effective processes, and aligning policy with social acceptance and market needs.

See also: bioeconomy, biotechnology, circular economy, sustainability.