How Scientists Are Creating Biovalue From Biological Systems
Imagine a world where your blood cells could repair damaged organs, where agricultural waste could power cities, and where genetic information could predict and prevent diseases before they manifest.
This isn't science fiction—it's the emerging frontier of biovalue creation, where scientists transform biological materials and processes into solutions for many of humanity's most pressing challenges. The transformation of biological resources into value extends far beyond economic benefits to encompass environmental sustainability, medical breakthroughs, and social innovations that collectively redefine our relationship with living systems 1 .
"The concept of biovalue represents a paradigm shift in how we assign worth to life itself."
Where once we valued nature primarily for what we could directly extract from it—timber, food, medicinal compounds—we now recognize that the greatest value may lie in preserving biological systems and harnessing their intricate processes. From regenerative medicine that rebuilds damaged tissues to agricultural innovations that transform underutilized crops into nutritional powerhouses, researchers are learning to unlock the hidden potential within biological systems 6 . This article explores how scientists create biovalue and why this revolution matters for our future.
Breaking down the concept and its dimensions
The term "biovalue" originates from the combination of 'bio' (referring to life or living organisms) and 'value' (denoting worth or significance). Its conceptual development gained prominence as environmental economics and ecological awareness expanded, particularly from the late 20th century onward 1 .
This linguistic fusion underscores the emerging understanding that biological assets hold diverse forms of worth beyond traditional market metrics.
The theoretical framework around biovalue has evolved significantly over time. Catherine Waldby, a prominent scholar in this field, defined biovalue as "the yield of vitality produced by the biotechnical reformulation of living processes" 5 .
This definition highlights how technical manipulation of biological systems can generate new forms of value—whether through genetic engineering, tissue manipulation, or data extraction from biological samples.
The inherent worth of biological systems regardless of human utility
The monetary worth derived from commercial applications
The benefits provided by functioning ecosystems
Contributions to human well-being and community resilience
How value is extracted from biological systems
Scientists employ various technological routes to create biovalue from biological material. In the biochemical domain, for instance, researchers use microorganisms or enzymes as catalysts to transform raw biomass into valuable products. Enzymatic processes can fractionate and solubilize lignocellulosic biomass through hydrolysis of cellulose and hemicellulose fractions, generating simple sugars that can be fermented into biofuels considered "advanced" or "second generation" 7 .
Creating biovalue requires specialized infrastructure and institutions. Intermediary agencies like the United Kingdom's Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult (CGTC) have been established to "accelerate" innovation in fields like regenerative medicine. Established in 2012 with £70 million in public funds, the CGTC aims to help support the development of a regenerative medicine industry in the UK by bridging the gap between basic science and commercial application 2 .
These processes exemplify how value can be added through biological transformation: what was once considered waste becomes raw material for higher-value products. The energy-densification effect present in fermentative processes results from a redistribution of oxygen atoms contained in the substrate, leaving the biofuel product with an oxygen content lower than that of the carbohydrate feedstock—thus increasing its calorific value 7 .
| Value Type | Description | Example Applications |
|---|---|---|
| Therapeutic Value | Medical treatments derived from biological systems | Regenerative medicine, pharmaceutical development |
| Ecological Value | Benefits from functioning ecosystems | Carbon sequestration, water purification |
| Nutritional Value | Health benefits from biologically-derived nutrition | Functional foods, nutraceuticals |
| Industrial Value | Biological alternatives to industrial processes | Biofuels, bioplastics, enzymatic manufacturing |
| Informational Value | Knowledge derived from biological data | Genetic insights, disease risk assessment |
Perhaps one of the most compelling examples of biovalue creation comes from the establishment of biobanks—systematic collections of human biological materials that provide the genetic raw material for genomic analysis. Since the late 1990s, practice of biobanking has become a key practice for the life sciences and biotechnologies, transforming biological material and associated data into epistemic objects with significant biovalue 3 .
National biobanks represent a particularly ambitious approach to biovalue creation. Countries including Iceland, Estonia, Japan, Sweden, Singapore, and the UK have established nationally delimited, population-based genetic databases. These projects are often funded as public-private partnerships, with money coming from national research councils, medical charities, biotech venture capital, and pharmaceutical company investment 5 .
The scientific rationale for large, population-based collections lies in the complexity of genetic contribution to common diseases and gene-environment interactions. Population biobanks, with biosample contributions from hundreds of thousands of individuals, provide the statistical power necessary to identify the relatively weak contribution of clusters of small genetic polymorphisms to disease, and the effects they may have on risk factors and drug action 5 .
To probe gene-environment interactions, population biobanks also require relatively long-term access to information about donors, such as health records, lifestyle data, and more. In some cases, biobank databases are linked to national health records, and donors may undergo extensive medical examinations and interviews upon donation.
| Biobank Name | Country | Established | Sample Size | Key Research Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK Biobank | United Kingdom | 2006 | 500,000 participants | Genetic, environmental, and health factors |
| deCODE Genetics | Iceland | 1996 | Entire population (consented) | Genetic epidemiology |
| Estonian Genome Center | Estonia | 2001 | 200,000 participants | Gene discovery and health records |
| Biobank Japan | Japan | 2003 | 200,000 participants | Common diseases |
| Chinese Kadoorie Biobank | China | 2004 | 512,000 participants | Environmental and genetic factors |
Biological samples gathered from donors
Samples prepared and stored
Connected to health information
Data mined for patterns
Findings translated to products
This process relies on what scholars have termed "clinical labor"—the regularized, embodied work that members of a population perform in their role as biobank participants 5 . This concept highlights how value creation depends not just on scientific expertise but also on the contributions of those who provide biological material and data.
Essential tools for transforming biological material into valuable applications
Specialized institutions like the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult (CGTC) in the UK have developed to provide not just physical infrastructure but also expertise and networking opportunities that accelerate the translation of basic biological research into valuable applications.
The CGTC positions itself as an innovation accelerator, building future-oriented visions allied to considerable organizational labor and resources through which a manufacturing platform and related services can be put in place 2 .
These intermediaries play a crucial role in defining the value of biological innovations by calculating and subsequently creating their marketability.
| Reagent Type | Primary Function | Applications | Significance in Biovalue Creation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restriction enzymes | Cut DNA at specific sequences | Genetic engineering, cloning | Enable precise manipulation of genetic material |
| Antibodies | Bind to specific antigens | Diagnostics, imaging, therapeutics | Allow detection and targeting of specific molecules |
| Fluorescent tags | Emit light when excited | Imaging, tracking, quantification | Enable visualization of biological processes |
| Stem cell media | Support pluripotent cell growth | Regenerative medicine | Maintain cells for tissue engineering |
| Sequencing reagents | Enable DNA decoding | Genomics, personalized medicine | Facilitate reading of genetic information |
The BioValue project funded by the European Union exemplifies how biovalue creation is expanding into agricultural domains. This initiative aims to set up a holistic approach to analyzing the link among biodiversity, the agro-food value chain, the environment, and consumer preferences and health 6 .
The project's vision is to generate recurring and spreading effects such as landscape transformation, diverse food supply chains, and primarily "diverse" food dishes. The researchers anticipate that European plains will gradually transition from oligo-cultural systems to poly-cultural ones with unprecedented benefits for the environment and consumers' health 6 .
Another promising frontier lies in bioenergy production through circular systems. Companies like BioValue in the Netherlands are experts in building and managing biogas plants that process organic waste into green gas and sustainable fuel, reducing CO2 emissions by 79% when compared to fossil-based natural gas 8 .
These approaches exemplify how waste-to-value transformations can create both economic and environmental benefits. The company's story began in 2007 at a farm in the Frisian village Tirns, where the managing director saw a future in circular agriculture with biogas 8 .
As biovalue creation accelerates, it raises important ethical questions about ownership, benefit sharing, and ecological impact. The case of genetic advocacy groups illustrates how patients and their families are becoming involved in the governance of disease and the generation of biovalue, contributing to novel norms relating to human participation in scientific research and the distribution of benefits derived from it 4 .
There are also concerns that national biobank research, configured as a "partnership" between national polities and biomedical corporations, may multiply risk categories for disease and expand the scope of risk, defining more and more people as being at risk for future illness and in need of testing and medication 5 . This "risk expansion" could have significant social and economic implications.
The creation of biovalue represents a fundamental shift in how humanity relates to biological systems.
Rather than merely extracting resources from nature, we are increasingly learning to collaborate with biological processes to generate value that benefits both human societies and natural systems. This approach recognizes that the most sustainable path forward may lie in working with nature's complexity rather than simplifying it for short-term gains.
From regenerative medicine that harnesses our cells' healing potential to agricultural systems that mimic natural ecosystems, the science of biovalue creation is helping us reimagine our relationship with the living world. As research continues to reveal the astonishing capabilities within biological systems, the potential for creating biovalue in sustainable, equitable ways will only expand.
The challenge ahead lies not primarily in the technical aspects of biovalue creation, but in developing governance frameworks that ensure these advancements benefit all of humanity while protecting the ecological systems that make them possible.
If we can meet this challenge, the creation of biovalue may play a central role in building a healthier, more sustainable future for both people and the planet.