In the ubiquitous world of modern resources, crude oil—often simply called "oil"—is a fundamental element of our daily lives, even if we don't always recognize its pervasive influence. But there’s a catch: while oil has been the engine of our modern world, it has become a serious concern for causing irreparable damage to the environment, including being a leading cause of climate change. It has become imperative that we reduce our dependence on oil and find better alternatives.

A key to a shift away from oil lies in something called biorefineries, which leverage the power of enzymes derived from microbes – like bacteria and fungi – to transform plants into useful products.

Join us as we delve into the expansive impact of crude oil, exploring not only its role as a critical fuel source but also its contribution to a wide array of products we depend on – and how biorefineries can help make the shift away from it.

This audio article is part of The Biosolutions Bulletin. For the text version of this article and to get The Biosolutions Bulletin delivered monthly directly to your inbox, please go to: https://www.novonesis.com/en/biosolutions-bulletin