Biotechnology and life sciences firms are being urged to explore opportunities in genetically modified food as part of efforts to propel the industry to double its turnover by 2020.
Business development agency Scottish Enterprise said focusing on the development of low-carbon products and services, including fresh approaches in agriculture, could help the sector realise the £6.2 billion total sales target set as part of its life sciences strategy.
Other prospects identified by the body include low-carbon fuels and power sources, remote monitoring in the healthcare industry, and new veterinary medicines.
The country’s 320 life sciences firms have also been urged to improve their own efficiency by adopting low-carbon ways of working, reducing inputs, and developing and selling sustainable products and services for consumers and other businesses.
Scottish Enterprise’s Low Carbon Opportunities in Scotland guide was published as the Scottish Government continues efforts to cut emissions by 42% by the end of the decade.
Chemical and life sciences director Julia Brown said there was great potential for the industry, but it must remain “globally competitive” to reap the rewards.
“There are many ways that Scottish life sciences companies can make the most of low-carbon opportunities, such as improving efficiency of existing operations, using Scotland’s extensive biotechnology knowledge to assist in the development of ‘greener’ products, and increasing the use of heat or transport fuels that use less carbon resources,” she said.
“For Scotland to be globally competitive in this market we must develop our low-carbon life sciences capabilities further to build on our reputation as the ideal partner of choice in major life sciences projects.”
She hailed industrial biotechnology the use of plants, algae and micro-organisms for processing and producing products as a particularly “significant market opportunity”, but also cited telemedicine as an area which would cut emissions by reducing the transport requirements of patients and healthcare workers.
Considerable research into production of biofuels from waste is already under way.
This would reduce competition for arable land between the new generation method and traditional crops.
But the guide acknowledges the potential “controversy” over the potential for GM developments.
“New crops using assisted breeding techniques and genetic modification may help to increase pest and disease resistance, reduce dependence on water and fertilisers, as well as improve yields for food and biomass,” it says.
“Whilst genetic modification is a controversial issue, it may have the potential to increase agricultural productivity and contribute to a lower-carbon economy through improved yields, less food waste and fewer inputs.”
Monitoring of packaging and transport, and process improvements, were also backed as ways of reducing costs and transport emissions.