Biotechnology – on the front line in the battle against pandemics and climate change

A global pandemic and the climate emergency are threatening human health and shaking economies. In response, the biotechnology industry is stepping up and turning future uncertainty into opportunities by solving problems with innovative products and processes. CPSL is ready to join this industry on the front line.

The world’s hopes have been pinned on the biotechnology industry to produce pharmaceuticals and medical devices since Sars-CoV-2 first appeared in Wuhan in December 2019, and the sector has responded by mobilizing its knowledge and capacity to find innovative ways to diagnose, treat, vaccinate against, detect, and predict the virus.

It’s a huge task, yet investors have also shown enormous interest. According to the Spanish Bioindustry Association (AseBio), “the volume of private capital has been growing since 2016, but with the healthcare emergency this year, 2020 has stood out with 46% growth over 2019, amounting to a total of €151,634,021”. Even before the outbreak, according to BIOSPAIN, “Biotechnology activities were at the top of rankings on production growth of economic activities for 2018, up 10.1%”.

Faster approval processes, combined with a complex and changing regulatory situation, the introduction of new medical device regulations (on 26 May 2021, Regulation (EU) 2017/745 on Medical Devices, and on 26 May 2022, Regulation (EU) 2017/746 on In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices), and international clinical trial requirements make streamlined, accurate, and above all, clear communication essential. The services of an expert language provider like CPSL have now become key in the process of launching new products and services on the market.

CPSL is ISO certified and is the language services provider of choice of pioneering scientific enterprises such as Bayer, Bio-Rad Laboratories, EKF Diagnostics, Novartis, Oxford Instruments, and Biotech. These enterprises, and over a hundred other organizations in the sector, outsource the translation and communication aspects of their operations to us. We translate and localize all kinds of scientific, technical, and communications materials while ensuring regulatory compliance and effective communication, thereby lightening the load of those organizations to let them focus on making the world a better place.

Clear messages about biotechnology and climate change

When it comes to the other major threat to society – the climate emergency – industrial biotechnology will be an invaluable weapon in the global fight against future pandemics and climate change, the most urgent challenges facing humankind in the 21st century. Yet these challenges also represent an opportunity for innovative products, new markets, and capital investments. New technologies are constantly being developed to counter GHG emissions, with industrial biotechnology forming a part of the technology toolkit to speed up the shift to a new, circular economy.

After almost 30 years of meetings to forge a global response to the climate emergency, there are signs that the world is finally ready to join forces in order to break the cycle of environmental damage. The United States has re-joined the Paris Climate Agreement, and governments, the business community, and the general population must cooperate and share information with a more open and communicative attitude to address the economic, social, and environmental challenges ahead. Industrial biotechnology, clean energy, and scientific research will help slow down, halt, and hopefully reverse the impact of human behavior on the environment.

According to AseBio president Ana Polanco, “biotechnology products reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 65%. They help slow climate change”. Her view is echoed by Richard Borreani, head of Public Affairs, Science & Sustainability at Bayer Crop Science, who confirmed that “biotechnology will enable us to adapt crop production to climate change and mitigate its effects, thereby allowing us to produce more sustainable food

Visibility is crucial to the success of companies in the bioeconomy

Despite the enormous variety of innovative bio-based products, many are unrecognizable to users and consumers because they are indistinguishable from petrochemical-based products. Governments and organizations are therefore eager to educate the world about the benefits of biotechnology, which they are doing through initiatives such as the EU’s Biovoices, which seeks to create awareness about bio-based products by engaging all relevant stakeholder groups through a platform for open dialogue, co-creation, and mutual learning. And this year, from 27 September to 1 October, Spain will host BIOSPAIN, Trade Show and Partnering, the largest country-based biotech event in Europe. It will not only feature thousands of participants from Spain and abroad but also provide a showcase for innovations that will improve people’s lives and save the planet through sustainable growth.