The application of science and technology to living organisms, as well as parts, products and models of them, to alter living or non-living materials for the production of knowledge, goods and services. Advanced biotechnologies are geared towards various application areas, being the main ones medical and pharmaceutical (“red” biotechnology), agri-food (“green” biotechnology), and industrial and environmental (“white” biotechnology), with the marine biotechnology (so-called “blue”) gaining increased attention.

EC, 2024, Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on Building the future with nature: Boosting biotechnology and biomanufacturing in the EU

Source category: EU Legislation

Any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use.

UNEP, 1992, Convention on Biological Diversity. United Nations Environment Programme.

Source category: International Organisations

Techniques that use living organisms or parts of organisms to produce a variety of products (from medicines to industrial enzymes) to improve plants or animals or to develop microorganisms to remove toxics from bodies of water, or act as pesticides.

US EPA, 2015, Terminology Services. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. https://sor.epa.gov/sor_internet/registry/termreg/searchandretrieve/termsandacronyms/search.do, accessed 28 August 2023.

Source category: Agency Documents

Integration of natural sciences and engineering in order to achieve the application of organisms, cells, parts thereof, and their molecular analogues for products and services.

Vert, M., Y. Doi, et al. (IUPAC Polymer Division) 2012, 'Terminology for biorelated polymers and applications (IUPAC Recommendations 2012)', Pure Applied Chemistry 84 (2), pp. 377-410.

Source category: Scientific & Technical Literature