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Harnessing synthetic biology for sustainable development

Nature Sustainability volume 2, pages 250–252 (2019)Cite this article

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Advances in synthetic biology have the potential to develop new products, materials and services that could contribute to the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Support for synthetic biology initiatives in developing countries is needed to ensure that these benefits are open to all.

Current industrial processes, consumption habits and intensive agriculture threaten the stability of human societies and ecosystems worldwide1. In 2015, the United Nations put forth 17 Sustainable Development Goals that emphasize the need to maintain and conserve Earth’s natural resources and to develop new technologies to transition to a more sustainable society by 20302. Here, I outline the key areas where synthetic biology innovations could usher in a more sustainable future and point out the changes needed within the field to achieve this vision.

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Fig. 1: Commercialization of plant natural products using synthetic biology.

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  1. Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA

    K. E. French

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  1. K. E. French
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Correspondence to K. E. French.

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French, K.E. Harnessing synthetic biology for sustainable development. Nat Sustain 2, 250–252 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-019-0270-x

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