Bioprospection aims at the research, identification, and application of bioproducts found in nature that can be used in the development of innovative products for health, personal care, agriculture, nutrition, and many other markets.
Apoena Biotech's Blue Amazon Project values and promotes sustainable development for the Cosmetics, Toiletries, and Fragrances (CT&F) sector through Brazilian biotechnology, enabling the creation of innovative products using microorganisms from some of the world's richest ecosystems.
Considering the global context of environmental, economic, and social imbalance, it is consistent for leaders to evaluate, rethink, and adjust their ways of managing and doing business with sustainable and innovative practices that are also more conscious, ethical, and inclusive of shared values.
New Economy to Drive BIOPROSPECTION
The Best for Brazil 2022 survey by humanizadas reveals that "a New Economy can represent not only a response to the social and environmental problems that the country [Brazil] currently faces but also an additional 538 billion dollars to Brazil's GDP by 2030. This means potential benefits from a set of policies focused on a path of growth, job creation, and competitive advantage in the face of climate and generational change."
Bioprocess-driven businesses
Bioprocess-driven businesses have real potential to contribute to the New Economy, especially in Brazil, a country responsible for hosting more than 20% of the planet's total species.
According to the Ministry of Environment, Brazil has the world's greatest biodiversity, with over 116,000 animal species and more than 46,000 known plant species in its six terrestrial and marine biomes.
This rich biodiversity is a source of resources and opportunities, as it can enhance conservation, sustainable use, and care for its valuable genetic heritage. The supply of molecules for biotechnological applications is characterized as an ecosystem service of nature itself, and bioprospection is the key to accessing this resource. This field of biotechnology gains even more prominence through the development of banks of microorganisms associated with biodiversity, driving sustainable bioprospection from highly renewable and unique compounds.
In this sense, the more preserved the biome is, the greater the possibilities of accessing species and microorganisms specific to a particular environment for the development of effective and safe products, turning them into a strategic advantage for the business. Recognized for its rich biological diversity and high degree of species conservation, the Fernando de Noronha archipelago becomes one of the ideal places for prospecting samples of microorganisms with effective biotechnological potential. Once isolated and cultivated, these microorganisms can be easily replicated on a large scale for the production of compounds of interest as well as for constantly replenishing stocks. "This was the key aspect for the start of Apoena Biotech's sustainable bioprospection activities in July 2022," said Bruno Carillo, director of operations. "By choosing Noronha as the archipelago representing the Blue Amazon, we value and promote the development of Brazilian biotechnology from one of the world's richest ecosystems, enabling the creation of unique sustainable products that aid in the preservation and open new opportunities for innovative solutions."
Sustainable bioprospecting with great potential
Sustainable bioprospection facilitates access to unexplored microorganisms with biotechnological potential (enabling the expansion of innovative and environmentally responsible product lines), while biotechnology can generate alternatives to replace non-sustainable raw materials and traditional processes, favoring long-term continuity and profitability in the business. "But for biotechnological products to effectively consolidate as a possibility of sustainable and exponential income, driving the CT&F sector in the New Economy, special attention is needed for new bioprocess-driven businesses. We are aware of the transitional path and the short-term impact on long-term business. However, the pursuit of regenerative solutions is an irreversible path, and that is a fact. Therefore, we believe in and invest in collaborative innovation to materialize these solutions, aiming for the development and strengthening of the Cosmetics, Toiletries, and Fragrance sectors. It benefits people, companies, and the planet," concludes Carillo.
Starting with the collection of biodiversity samples in the Blue Amazon, Apoena Biotech began developing a bank of marine bacteria with biotechnological potential to support the creation of products in different markets. However, their initial selection plans focus on applications for cosmetics, toiletries, and fragrances.
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