Biocatalysis

Biocatalysis is important for addressing global challenges: climate change, substitution of fossils, feeding a growing population—basically because bioprocessing in food, feed, and nonfood industries improves resource efficiency, getting more out of the raw biomaterials. Microbial enzymes are the active elements in biocatalysis. Enzymes are specific and efficient (not used up, but reusable). The small enzyme molecules contribute significantly to making industrial processes more sustainable, by changing from chemical processes to enzymatic (biocatalytic) processes, being milder, using less energy, producing less waste water. Enzymes and biocatalysis are key elements in sustainable production of biobased products in the new bioeconomy era.