The potentials of biosoutions: Climate and sustainability potentials, barriers to growth, and Danish strongholds
Biosolutions can globally reduce CO2 emissions by 4,300 million tons corresponding corresponding to around eight per cent of current emissions globally or close to the entire US CO2 emissions in one year. This is one of findings in a new analysis report prepared by Copenhagen Economics for the Alliance for Biosolutions and supported by Novo Nordisk Foundation.
Furthermore report finds that the world markt for the bio solutions could surge from EUR 240 billion in 2020 to EUR 640 billion in 2030.
Strong Danish position within biosolutions Denmark has a strong international position within biosolutions with well-established companies and innovative start-ups that deliver high-quality products to the global market.
Products include alternative proteins, bioenergy, bio-based ingredients, biopesticides, bioplastics, enzymes, probiotics, food cultures and fermentation solutions for feed and food. Denmark's strengths in biotechnology are centered around a unique ecosystem of companies, which gives Denmark a comparative advantage for the development of bio solutions in close cooperation between industry and research institutions.
The Danish bio solution industry contributed EUR 1.8 billion to Danish gross domestic product in 2020 and supported approximately 6,800 jobs in Denmark10, many of which are highly productive
jobs in research, development, and skilled manufacturing.
The industry employs people with different educational backgrounds, such as laboratory technicians, economists, process operators, veterinarians, and chemists.
Around four out of ten people in the industry have either a vocational education or are unskilled workers. The industry is heavily internationalized with Danish exports of bio solutions reaching EUR 3.6 billion in 2020, constituting almost 80 per cent of the industry’s revenue.
Danish companies can increase their global sales to more than EUR 14 billion in 2030 if the companies hold their current market share moving towards 2030. This could add an additional 7,200 jobs across Danish bio solution companies by 2030. In addition, the bio solution industry could help maintain rural jobs in Denmark, even with the ambitious Danish climate goals, through its enabling of emission reductions in hard to abate industries, like agriculture, often located in rural areas.
