White Biotechnology Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Product (Biofuels, Biochemicals, Biopolymers), By Application (Bioenergy, Food & feed Additives, Pharmaceutical Ingredients, Personal Care & Household Products, Others), By Region and Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 262.54 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	9.39%
Fastest Growing Segment	Biofuels
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 449.84 Billion

Market Overview

The Global White Biotechnology Market will grow from USD 262.54 Billion in 2025 to USD 449.84 Billion by 2031 at a 9.39% CAGR. White biotechnology involves the application of biological systems such as microorganisms and enzymes to manufacture biobased products including chemicals, materials, and biofuels. The primary drivers propelling this market include the growing necessity for sustainable industrial practices and strict environmental regulations aimed at reducing reliance on fossil fuels. According to European Bioplastics, in 2024, the global production capacity for bioplastics stood at approximately 2.47 million tonnes.

A major challenge impeding the broader expansion of the white biotechnology sector is the high cost of production compared to established petrochemical methods. This economic disadvantage frequently creates a barrier to entry for companies seeking to adopt greener technologies and limits the scalability of biobased solutions in price sensitive markets.

Key Market Drivers

Government incentives and subsidies for renewable chemical production act as a primary catalyst for the white biotechnology market by mitigating the financial risks associated with scaling bio-based infrastructure. These policy mechanisms, including grants and loan guarantees, are essential for bridging the gap between laboratory research and commercial-scale manufacturing, a phase where high capital expenditures often stall progress. By de-risking these investments, governments are actively securing domestic bioeconomy supply chains and accelerating the transition away from petrochemical dependencies. According to BioMADE, October 2024, in the press release 'BioMADE Announces $26.9 Million Invested in 17 Projects', the institute allocated this funding to support the scale-up of domestic bioindustrial manufacturing innovations. This influx of capital allows companies to construct pilot facilities and optimize fermentation processes, directly addressing the sector's need for scalable production capacity.

Advancements in synthetic biology and enzyme engineering are simultaneously revolutionizing the market by enhancing the efficiency and yield of microbial cell factories. Through precise genetic reprogramming and AI-driven optimization, researchers can now design microorganisms that convert feedstocks into high-value chemicals with unprecedented specificity, significantly lowering unit costs relative to traditional extraction methods. This technological maturation is driving rapid commercial adoption across diverse industries, from agriculture to household care. According to Novonesis, February 2025, in the 'Company Announcement no. 3', the company delivered an organic sales growth of 8% for the full year 2024, highlighting the robust industrial uptake of advanced biosolutions. Broader economic support reinforces this technological momentum; according to the White House, in 2024, executive actions and federal policies have spurred a total of $46 billion in public and private sector biomanufacturing investments since the initiative's inception.

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Key Market Challenges

The high cost of production relative to established petrochemical methods constitutes a significant structural barrier to the white biotechnology market. Bio-based manufacturing processes typically require substantial investment in advanced fermentation technologies, purification systems, and specialized feedstock supply chains, all of which drive up operational expenses. Unlike the petrochemical industry, which benefits from decades of optimized infrastructure and massive economies of scale, white biotechnology firms often face higher unit costs that make their end products less competitive in price-sensitive global markets.

This economic disparity directly limits the scalability of biobased solutions, particularly in sectors with thin profit margins such as commodity chemicals and industrial materials. Manufacturers remain hesitant to completely transition to greener alternatives when the price premium hinders profitability, thereby slowing the overall rate of market penetration. According to the World Bioenergy Association, in 2024, global ethanol output reached 118 billion liters, a figure that, while substantial, highlights the ongoing struggle to achieve the massive volumes necessary to fully displace fossil-based incumbents due to these prevailing cost constraints.

Key Market Trends

The expansion of enzymatic solutions for plastic recycling and upcycling represents a pivotal shift in the white biotechnology market, moving beyond mechanical limitations to achieve infinite material circularity. Advanced enzymatic processes depolymerize complex plastics like PET and nylon into their virgin-grade monomers, allowing for their reintroduction into the manufacturing cycle without performance loss. This capability addresses the critical industry need for high-quality recycled content while mitigating environmental pollution. Highlighting the commercial momentum of this technology, according to Samsara Eco, June 2024, in the announcement 'Samsara Eco secures $100M in Series A+ funding to help end plastic waste', the company raised approximately US$65 million to accelerate the deployment of its enzymatic recycling capabilities and construct new facilities in Southeast Asia.

Simultaneously, the market is shifting toward non-food biomass and waste-based feedstocks, decoupling chemical production from the food supply chain. Manufacturers are increasingly utilizing industrial off-gases and agricultural residues as primary inputs, reducing carbon footprints and avoiding the volatility of commodity crop prices. This transition is powered by gas fermentation technologies that convert carbon emissions into valuable intermediates like ethanol and sustainable fuels. Demonstrating the growing economic viability of these waste-to-value pathways, according to LanzaTech, August 2024, in the 'Second-Quarter 2024 Financial Results', the company reported a 35% year-over-year revenue increase to $17.4 million, driven largely by the commercial expansion of its biorefining and carbon recycling operations.

Segmental Insights

The Biofuels segment is emerging as the fastest-growing category in the Global White Biotechnology Market, propelled by the urgent global transition toward renewable energy sources. This rapid expansion is largely driven by stringent environmental regulations and government mandates aiming to decarbonize the transportation sector. For example, policies enforced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, such as the Renewable Fuel Standard, strictly require the integration of renewable fuels into the national supply, directly stimulating market demand. Furthermore, the strategic push for energy security and volatile fossil fuel prices are compelling industries to adopt cost-effective, enzymatically processed biofuels as a sustainable alternative.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a leading position in the Global White Biotechnology Market, driven by substantial investments in research and development alongside a robust industrial framework. The dominance of this region is largely supported by favorable government policies, such as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) BioPreferred Program, which actively promotes the commercial adoption of bio-based products. Furthermore, the widespread integration of biofuels and renewable chemicals across various manufacturing sectors reinforces this growth. The presence of established industry players and a consistent focus on sustainable production practices ensure North America remains a central hub for industrial biotechnology.

Recent Developments

• In September 2024, Novonesis launched a new advanced yeast product, Innova Eclipse, specifically engineered for the ethanol production industry. This product was designed to overcome common fermentation bottlenecks by offering superior resilience to stressors such as high temperatures and organic acids. Innova Eclipse enabled ethanol producers to achieve faster fermentation times and higher yields, thereby optimizing plant throughput and operational efficiency. The launch represented a significant advancement in industrial fermentation technology, supporting the bioenergy sector's drive for greater profitability and reduced carbon intensity through more robust biological solutions.
• In August 2024, TotalEnergies Corbion entered into a strategic collaboration with Nagase & Co., Ltd. to expand the distribution of its Luminy® PLA (Polylactic Acid) bioplastics in Japan. This partnership aimed to accelerate the adoption of bio-based materials in the Japanese market, aligning with the country's carbon neutrality goals. Beyond distribution, the agreement included a joint commitment to research and development, focusing on enhancing material properties to create new applications for the biopolymers. This initiative underscored the growing demand for renewable, lower-carbon alternatives to conventional plastics in sectors ranging from packaging to durable goods, strengthening the global reach of high-performance bioplastics.
• In July 2024, BASF achieved a research breakthrough in collaboration with the University of Graz and the Austrian Research Centre of Industrial Biotechnology. The partners developed a fundamentally new computer-assisted model designed to optimize the efficiency of biocatalytic production processes. This innovative method allowed researchers to visualize and understand enzyme performance at a molecular level more effectively, significantly reducing the time and resources required to identify optimal reaction conditions. By facilitating the faster scale-up of new enzymatic processes from the laboratory to industrial manufacturing, this development was poised to enhance the sustainability and cost-effectiveness of producing bio-based chemicals and pharmaceutical intermediates.
• In January 2024, a significant milestone in the Global White Biotechnology Market was established with the official completion of the merger between two Danish bioscience leaders, Novozymes and Chr. Hansen. This strategic combination formed a new entity named Novonesis, creating a comprehensive global partner for biosolutions. The merger integrated the companies' complementary strengths in enzymes, microbes, and functional proteins to serve a wide array of industries, including bioenergy, household care, and food production. Novonesis announced its commitment to delivering transformative biological solutions that address global challenges such as carbon emissions and sustainable food systems, positioning itself as a dominant player in the industrial biotechnology landscape.

Key Market Players

• Novozymes A/S
• Kaneka Corporation
• AngelYeast Co., Ltd.
• Koninklijke DSM N.V.
• Akzo Nobel N.V.
• BASF SE
• Henkel AG & Co. KGaA
• Mitsubishi Corporation
• DuPont de Nemours, Inc.
• Amyris, Inc.

By Product	By Application	By Region
Biofuels Biochemicals Biopolymers	Bioenergy Food & feed Additives Pharmaceutical Ingredients Personal Care & Household Products Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global White Biotechnology Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• White Biotechnology Market, By Product:

• Biofuels
• Biochemicals
• Biopolymers

• White Biotechnology Market, By Application:

• Bioenergy
• Food & feed Additives
• Pharmaceutical Ingredients
• Personal Care & Household Products
• Others

• White Biotechnology Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE