Biotech Key to Protecting Environment

The rapid advancements in scientific research especially in the field of biotechnology has promoted use of biological processes for the protection and restoration of the quality of the environment. Across the world the advancements in biotechnology have ensured the resolution of complex environmental challenges, such as genetic rescue of species, curbing pollution and ramping up renewable energy generation. Emerging trends in biotechnology have helped in controlling polluting contaminants at source before they enter the environment, remediating these contaminants if they enter the environment and developing eco-friendly approaches for the testing, analysis and detection of harmful pollutants in the environment. Furthermore biotechnology has helped combine advanced concepts such as genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics, sequencing, and imaging processes to protect the environment.

Bahrain can leverage the impressive progress made by biotechnology, especially in the realm of environmental conservation to further protect its ecological diversity and fortify its environment. Bahrain can explore various facets of biotechnology to see which of them suit best for the nations unique conditions and environmental challenges. Bioremediation for instance is the most simplest and proven concepts under biotechnology and is already used extensively in Bahrain with impressive results. Bio means living, remediation means process of removing or correcting. Nature is full of microbes and microorganism which are both harmful and beneficial to humans and exhibit symbiotic relationships to maintain the balance in our environment. Bahrain already has a successful track record of deploying bioremediation techniques to remove or detoxify pollutants in soil and water. However, in order to capitalise further on bioremediation Bahrain must explore the full potential of this concept by scaling up its use by ensuring mainstream utilisation of microorganisms to remove organic material and toxic chemical from domestic waste and industrial effluents such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), petroleum hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls and metals. Besides bioremediation Bahrain can also tap biotechnology and create a robust and sustainable agricultural sector through the use of biopesticides that are chemical free thereby contributing towards better health and improved productivity of the agri-sector.

Yet another aspect of biotechnology is the use of Bioenzymes for the benefit of the environment. Bioenzymes can help carry out total transformations of the toxicological structure of a contaminant, or cause complete conversion of a substance into innocuous inorganic end product. And they can do this in a much faster way than any other non-biological method. Bioenzymes are a powerful tool that helping maintain a clean environment in many sectors such as agro-food, oil, animal feed, detergent, pulp and paper, textile, leather, petroleum and various chemical and biochemical industries.

Similarly, latest advancements in biotechnology are also helping in utilising the role of Biosensors to detect and rein in pollution. Contamination of metals or pollutants in the environment is being detected using microbes based biosensors that can also be designed to be very selective, or sensitive to a broad range of the compounds. This, in turn has the potential to detect pollutants like heavy metals and industrial chemicals in ambient environment besides providing real time data which is crucial for environmental conservation. Biotechnology has made immense progress over the past few decades and can help Bahrain with infinite scientific options to protect and conserve its environment.