Biotechnology emerges as Spain’s key tool against climate change: nearly 600 solutions developed to drive the green transition

In recent years, we have witnessed a worrying increase in health threats resulting from climate change. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), Europe is the fastest-warming region among all those monitored by the organization. This past June, the WHO warned that all climate-health indicators are deteriorating: one-third of global heat-related deaths already occur in this region. Worldwide, about 50% of the population —3.6 billion people— lives in areas highly vulnerable to climate change, where rising temperatures, air pollution, and human-driven ecosystem disruptions combine as major risk factors.

This environmental deterioration is exacerbated by current consumption and resource management models. According to the latest Eurostat report, food waste in the European Union reached 130 kilograms per inhabitant in 2023. In addition, in 2022, the EU generated 5.0 tons of waste per person, of which 40.8% was recycled and 30.2% ended up in landfills, highlighting the urgent need to strengthen sustainability and circular economy policies across the continent.

Against this backdrop, biotechnology stands out as an essential tool to mitigate the effects of climate change on human health and biodiversity. The WHO emphasizes that this discipline enables the development of innovative solutions in fields such as agriculture, medicine, and ecosystem management, contributing to more resilient and sustainable health systems.

In agriculture, biotechnology helps increase crop yield, quality, and safety; mitigate agricultural impact; reduce the use of chemical pesticides; prevent soil erosion; protect land from deforestation; and preserve biodiversity. In the health sector, it facilitates the production of medicines and vaccines to prevent and treat emerging diseases linked to ecosystem changes. Moreover, biotechnology contributes to biodiversity conservation: healthy ecosystems such as forests and wetlands act as carbon sinks, regulating the climate and reducing exposure to extreme events. Through the restoration and protection of these ecosystems, biotechnology enhances the planet’s capacity to mitigate the effects of climate change.

The WHO also promotes the One Health approach, which recognizes the interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health. Within this framework, biotechnology enables the development of integrated strategies to prevent and control zoonotic diseases and other risks associated with climate change.

In Spain, advancing toward a more sustainable economic model is urgent in the face of global challenges such as climate change, ecosystem degradation, and population growth. The green transition is presented as the indispensable roadmap, and Spain’s 2050 Strategy highlights biotechnology as a driving force for change — capable of optimizing resources, boosting more efficient production, and improving quality of life.

Aware of this transformative potential, at AseBio, through our Sustainability Commission, we have produced the report “Biotechnology Applied to the Green Transition: Solutions for a Sustainable Economy.” This document analyzes the solutions developed by our member companies and organizations, their areas of action, geographical distribution, challenges, and proposals to advance toward a more sustainable future.

Nearly 600 solutions to drive Spain’s green transition

The report features initiatives from 66 biotechnology companies and 20 public and private organizations — including research centers, technology institutes, and foundations — that are developing 587 solutions to facilitate Spain’s green transition. These initiatives are grouped into 27 areas of work across four main categories: food innovation (34%), bioprocesses (32%), sustainable agriculture (18%), and bioproducts (16%). Many focus on animal health and nutrition, food safety, functional foods, fermentation, biocatalysis, and substance detection. In addition, 28 organizations are directly involved in waste revalorization, while others offer solutions that optimize processes to reduce their environmental impact.
Among those with the greatest diversity of solutions are AINIA (25 out of 27 areas), Leitat (23), Tecnalia, and the Scientific and Technological Research Center of Extremadura (CICYTEX) (20).

Geographically, Madrid and Catalonia concentrate half of the organizations, consolidating their position as Spain’s main hubs of biotechnology innovation focused on sustainability. Regarding the profile of participants, SMEs account for 55% of the solutions, working on average in five to six areas. Technology centers cover an average of 19.5 areas, while research centers participate in around 11 areas, underscoring their role in knowledge generation and technology transfer.

When analyzing the scale of green transition activities by type of organization, the food industry stands out as the leading sector for national SMEs (38%), foundations (33%), technology centers (29%), and research institutes (33%), while multinationals and large national companies focus mainly on bioprocesses (41% and 50%, respectively).

Despite these advances, green biotechnology still faces major barriers: a lack of clear regulation for new foods and biotech products, European legislation focused on hazard rather than risk, legal restrictions on by-products and waste, limited administrative coordination, and limited knowledge of health registration processes. SMEs, in particular, struggle to access funding and invest in advanced stages of technological development, while the scarcity of pilot plants and restrictions on subsidized equipment hinder technology transfer.

The shortage of qualified talent —especially in rural areas— and the public’s negative perception of innovation pose additional obstacles to the adoption of sustainable biotechnological solutions.

To overcome these challenges, AseBio proposes fostering strategic alliances between technology companies and the agricultural sector, adapting financial instruments to rural environments, reducing bureaucracy, reusing by-products within the circular economy, and facilitating access to regenerative agricultural tools. We also advocate for technologies that integrate the digital and ecological dimensions, and for reinforcing infrastructure through bioplants and biorefineries capable of transforming waste into new value-added products. These actions are essential to advance toward a more resilient, competitive, and environmentally respectful production system.

In conclusion, biotechnology is consolidating its role as a strategic tool to address the challenges of climate change, offering solutions that strengthen health, protect biodiversity, and make an effective green transition possible. Collaboration between governments, scientists, businesses, and communities will be key to unlocking its full potential and ensuring a healthier, more sustainable future.