Conserving Biodiversity

Sustainable Innovations

Many Biotech companies develop products that help humans and the environment.

BASF develops innovations that use bio-resources in a sustainable manner and produce as little waste and pollution as possible. Here are some of their innovations:

BASF is a leader in increasing crop yields by decreasing disease. BASF's new fungicide, Xemium, protects crops from fungal pathogens, and works better than other fungicides because it circulates throughout the entire plant. It prevents diseases in crops, allowing more successful methods of agriculture and less land wasted for inedible, wasted crops. It is sold in the U.S. as Merivon^™ fungicide, Priaxor^™ fungicide and Systiva^™ fungicide. (14)
Neopor is a material used in housing insulation that is 20% more effective than traditional materials. It reduces the amount of heating oil needed.
Plastic material on automotives provides a lighter material that improves fuel efficiency in transportation. In fact, 100 kg of plastic that replace heavy metal can reduce fuel consumption by 0.4 liters for every 100 Km driven.
BASF uses combined heat and power (CHP) plants that produces massive amounts of energy with 90% fuel consumption. These plants reduce carbon dioxide by 500,000 metric tons per year. (15)

Arcadia Biosciences is a biotech company that uses genetic modification of plants to increase agricultural productivity, therefore benefitting the environment and communities who depend on agriculture for food.

Arcadia Biosciences is developing salt tolerant plants that will be able to produce normal-quality yields under saline conditions. The plants will also be able to absorb salt in the soil without damage, which will result in rehabilitation of the soil. This technology will greatly benefit rice-growing regions in Africa who suffer from soil salinization, as well as decrease land needed for agriculture. (51)
"Arcadia Biosciences is working with the Chinese government to reward farmers in China that grow the firm's genetically modified (GM) rice, with carbon credits that they can sell for cash." (52)
Biotech companies have a set amount of carbon emissions they are allowed to emit. If a company does not reach this limit, then they can sell their "credits" to other companies who have exceeded their limit, encouraging the implementation of new eco-friendly technologies. (53)

Biotech Mills, Inc. is a company dedicated to developing oil fluids that are more eco-friendly, and products that help clean up massive oil spills.

Kenaf, which comes from plant stalks, is the most absorbent natural material on Earth, and is used to make chemicals that clean up oil spills.
SpillSocks can absorb oil in fresh water or salt water.
SpillSuck is the liquid version of kenaf that can remove oil on beaches, water, and animals. (16)

Biotech Mills, Inc. develops products that help clean up oil off of animals like pelicans. Their products are being used to save birds like pelicans in the Gulf Oil Spill.

Monsanto is a biotechnology company whose mission is to improve lives through innovative ways of sustainable agriculture. They produce products that increase crop production and find new ways of efficient agriculture. Agricultural farmland must efficiently produce as many crops as possible in order to conserve land, thus conserving biodiversity. Monsanto is a leader in this practice.

RoundUp Ready is a great water conservation technology that advances conservation tillage, a method used to increase soil moisture and use less irrigation.
YieldGuard Rootworm keeps corn plants rooted better to get more nutrients from the soil.
Monsanto is developing a drought-tolerant corn trait that is expected to become available in 2012. (17)

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