The catastrophic Los Angeles wildfires are just the latest sign that climate change is making natural disasters more ferocious, long-lasting, and destructive. With disasters like this at least partially caused by an increasingly warming planet and disrupted precipitation patterns, demands for innovative solutions that can transform our industrial processes and energy systems are growing.
While much attention has focused on renewable energy and electrification, a new approach is also emerging: engineering biology, or synthetic biology, which harnesses biological systems to create sustainable alternatives to carbon-intensive processes. This fusion of biology and engineering is opening new frontiers in our ability to address industrial emissions and create sustainable manufacturing processes.
The industrial sector alone accounts for one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions, with traditional manufacturing processes requiring intense heat and energy while generating toxic byproducts. The challenge is particularly acute in "hard-to-abate" sectors like cement, steel, and chemicals, where conventional processes are deeply entrenched, and alternatives have been limited. However, engineered biological systems are now offering promising pathways to reduce this environmental impact dramatically.
Consider concrete production, one of the most carbon-intensive industrial processes. Companies like Prometheus Materials are using biomineralization - the same process that creates coral reefs - to produce concrete that is not only carbon-negative but also 15-20% lighter and three times stronger than traditional concrete. This biological approach eliminates the need for high-temperature kilns and reduces the requirement for steel reinforcement. The technology has already received key industry certifications and is being deployed in real-world construction projects.
The transformation extends beyond just materials. In metal extraction, traditionally an energy-intensive and environmentally damaging process, companies like Infinite Elements are engineering microorganisms that can selectively recover precious metals from electronic waste and mining byproducts with over 95% efficiency. This "bioleaching" approach operates at room temperature and without harsh chemicals, offering a sustainable solution for securing the critical materials needed for renewable energy technologies.
And you can’t overlook innovators such as Aestuarium aiming to implement industrial desalination that uses 80% less energy with the assistance of genetically engineered bacteria that consume or transport salt ions rather than traditional reverse osmosis methods.
Most excitingly, recent advances in AI are accelerating these biological innovations. AI models are helping scientists design new proteins and enzymes that can make industrial processes more efficient or create entirely new sustainable materials. Companies like Arzeda and Cradle Bio are using AI to rapidly iterate through potential biological designs, dramatically reducing the time needed to develop new solutions. This convergence of AI and biology is creating a powerful toolset for addressing climate challenges.
This convergence of biology and engineering also enables circular manufacturing approaches. Firms like Breaking are developing microorganisms that can break down plastic waste into reusable components, while others like Lanzatech are converting industrial emissions into valuable chemicals and materials. These innovations are helping to close the loop on industrial waste streams and create more sustainable supply chains.
The field of synthetic biology employs two main approaches: "bottom-up" engineering, which uses unnatural molecules to reproduce emergent behaviors from natural biology, and "top-down" engineering, which takes interchangeable parts from natural biology to assemble systems that act unnaturally. These approaches are complemented by techniques like precision fermentation, controlled environment agriculture, and genome editing, creating a versatile toolkit for addressing industrial challenges.
The challenge now lies in scaling these technologies. While many show incredible promise in the laboratory, they need to prove their effectiveness at industrial scales and compete on cost with established processes. This will require continued investment in research and development, supportive policy frameworks, and collaboration between startups, established companies, and research institutions.
Looking ahead, engineered biology could revolutionize how we produce everything from building materials to chemicals to metals, dramatically reducing the industry's carbon footprint while creating new economic opportunities. As climate change accelerates, this fusion of biology and engineering may prove to be one of our most powerful tools for creating a sustainable industrial future.
The key will be maintaining momentum in both technological development and commercial deployment. With a continued focus on scaling promising solutions, while developing next-generation technologies, engineered biology can help transform our industrial systems from carbon emitters into sustainable pillars of a circular economy.
This is a pivotal moment for engineered biology. The foundational technologies are proven, commercial applications are emerging, and the urgency of climate change is driving adoption. While challenges remain, the potential impact of this approach in reducing industrial emissions while enabling sustainable manufacturing makes it one of our most promising paths forward in addressing climate change. By harnessing the power of biology, we can create a more sustainable industrial future while addressing one of humanity's most significant challenges.
Karthee Madasamy is the founder and Managing Partner at MFV Partners, an early-stage, deep-tech venture fund investing in alternative energy, climate tech, robotics, AI, and quantum computing. Prior to founding MFV, Karthee spent 11 years at Qualcomm Ventures where some of his notable investments included Waze (acquired by Google) and BORQS (NASDAQ IPO).
