“Synthetic biology should not be crowded with drugs. Pesticides and feed are good tracks!” Academician Ma Dawei of the Chinese Academy of Sciences said at the 2025 Nanyang Synthetic Biology Industry Conference. He precisely pointed out the current misunderstanding in the development of the synthetic biology industry with the principle of “cost is king”, clearly stating: “The common people do not care whether the technology is advanced or not, but only choose cheap products.”
Synthetic biology does not have to focus solely on drugs. Instead, it can target bulk chemicals such as pesticides and feed, making it easier to release value. This view points out a practical and feasible direction for the development of the synthetic biology industry.
1. The field of drugs is not the optimal solution for synthetic biology
- On the one hand, modern drugs have high activity and low dosage. For instance, the national annual consumption of protamine is only 180 kilograms, and that of some antibody drugs is just over 30 kilograms. To develop synthetic bioprocesses for such low production volumes, the input-output ratio is low.
- On the other hand, most drugs have non-natural structures. For instance, kinase inhibitors like “benzene ring to benzene ring” are difficult to be catalyzed by suitable enzymes, and substances such as morphine and artemisinin have yet to be biomanufactured.
Even if the cost of tetracycline and erythromycin is reduced to 250 yuan per kilogram and 400 yuan per kilogram respectively through synthetic biology, due to the limited total amount, it is difficult to convert the advantages.
2.Bulk chemicals are the “fertile soil” for synthetic biology
- In the field of pesticides: By 2025, the usage of pesticides in China’s planting industry will reach 240,000 to 250,000 tons, and the demand for biopesticides is on the rise. The Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences has achieved solid fermentation of abamectin through synthetic biology, reducing costs by 8.38%. The genetically modified strains can also enhance the activity of pesticides.
- In the feed sector, the total national industrial feed output is expected to reach 315 million tons in 2024. A certain company has replaced soybean meal with amino acids produced by synthetic biology. By 2025, the annual output of amino acids in the industrial park will reach 30,000 tons, reducing the feed cost per pig by 15 yuan, with significant cost reduction benefits.
3. Synthetic biology and chemical synthesis are not in a competitive relationship but rather complementary
For instance, human insulin first chemically synthesizes DNA fragments, then biosynthesizes peptide chains, and finally chemically connects them. Saforamycin can be synthesized in just 4 to 5 steps using the “chemical-enzymatic method”, significantly enhancing the efficiency.
The development of the synthetic biology industry will ultimately return to the essence of the industry. The key lies in adapting to the scale of market demand and reducing production costs. In the field of bulk chemicals such as pesticides and feed, with its huge market demand and clear space for cost optimization, it has become an ideal track for the application of synthetic biology technology and the creation of actual value.
In the future, with the continuous in-depth development of synthetic biology technology in these fields, it will surely inject strong impetus into the high-quality development of related industries in our country and promote the synthetic biology industry in our country to a new height.
About Bai Lun
Bailun has rich experience in the manufacturing of various reactors and pressure vessels. We have a team of experts in the fields of biological reactions, fermentation processes, mechanical manufacturing, and automatic control. Our research and technological levels have always been at the leading domestic and world-class standards, providing you with a comfortable, reassuring and worry-free product experience.
Are you ready to boost all kinds of reactors and pressure vessels yields? Contact Bailun Technology today and discover how their innovative bioreactors can transform your business.