Press Release
Mission Innovation launches Integrated Biorefineries Mission in New Delhi
Dr. Jitendra Singh, Indian Minister of Science, Technology and Earth Sciences, and Rob Jetten, Dutch Minister for Climate and Energy Policy, have today announced the launch of the Integrated Biorefineries Mission with the goal of replacing 10% of fossil-based fuels, chemicals, and materials with bio-based alternatives by 2030.
Co-led by India and the Netherlands, the Integrated Biorefineries Mission will be headed moving forward by Dr. Sangita M. Kasture (Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India) and Kees Kwant (Netherlands Enterprise Agency, Ministry of Economic Affairs, RVO, The Netherlands.) Also involved are Brazil and Canada as core members, and the European Commission and the United Kingdom as supporting members. The Mission aims to support the development and commercialization of biorefineries to de-risk new and emerging technologies and improve cost competitiveness through international collaboration on research, development, and demonstration. The Mission will tackle the need for affordable low-carbon and renewable alternatives to fossil-based fuels, chemicals, and materials, particularly in hard-to-abate sectors such as petro-chemicals, long-haul transportation, and industry.
“Cost reduction & high performance of sustainable and advanced biofuels is important for low carbon hard to abate transport sectors. The integrated Biorefinery Mission will address the innovations gaps to develop and demonstrate commercially viable bio based fuels with coproduction of chemicals and materials leading to low carbon economy. India and Netherlands will develop innovation roadmap with Brazil, Canada, EC, UK and other collaborative members and partners for successful implementation of Integrated Biorefineries Mission”
Dr. Sangita M. Kasture | Coordinator MI India
This is the sixth Mission launched by Mission Innovation, and joins initiatives focused on clean hydrogen, green power systems, net zero shipping, carbon dioxide removal and urban transitions. Missions are public-private innovation alliances that will catalyse global action behind ambitious and inspirational innovation goals that will lead to tipping points in the cost and scale of clean energy solutions.
“Participation in Mission Innovation 2.0 is of great importance to the Netherlands. Therefore, we are proud to be able to co-lead the Integrated Biorefineries Mission. Countries, knowledge institutes, industry, all are welcome to join this mission and help us set up and promote RD&D, realize pilot-scale demonstrations and boost public-private partnerships. Together we can achieve more.”
Rob Jetten | Minister for Climate and Energy Policy, Government of the Netherlands
The first step for members of the Integrated Biorefineries Mission will be to ascertain the innovation requirements to achieve the goal and identify the opportunities for enhanced cooperation between member countries, with industry as well as with other Missions. Members will promote research and development to reduce costs, advance pilot-scale demonstration projects for biorefining technologies, and collaborate with industry and standards-setting organizations to support lobal policy frameworks for these new bio-based products.
“Biotechnological interventions can play a major role in switching the fossil-based feedstock to waste biomass to slash global greenhouse gas emissions and will provide a sustainable alternative for hard-to-abate sectors, simultaneously creating rural employment. India and Netherlands are leading the Biorefinery Mission to address the innovation challenges to make available sustainable and cost-effective fuels, chemicals, and materials. Collaborated efforts and industry engagements will catalyse realizing the goal of the mission through research, development, and demonstration for the global good, aligning to national priorities.”
Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale | Secretary, Department of Biology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India
Transport, Chemicals, and Materials: One third of global CO2 emissions
Ultimately, the work of members in this Mission will support innovations that enable CO2 emissions reduction in the transport, chemicals, and materials sectors. Worldwide, these sectors make up roughly one third of all CO2 emissions. Replacing fossil fuels with bio-based renewable alternatives can drastically reduce emissions. Integrated biorefineries also produce multiple products from the same raw material, such as seaweed or agricultural waste, making the process more cost-effective while offering employment and economic opportunity in rural areas.
“The transport and chemicals sectors are responsible for nearly one third of global emissions, and urgent action is needed to reduce this. Led by our members India and the Netherlands, the Integrated Biorefineries Mission will work to ensure that 10% of fossil-based fuels, chemicals, and materials will be replaced with bio-based alternatives by 2030. Today’s launch signals another important milestone in Mission Innovation’s work to drive vital action and investment in the research, development, and demonstration of the clean technologies our planet needs.”
Jennie Dodson | Head of MI Secretariat
About Mission Innovation
Mission Innovation is a global initiative to catalyse action and investment in research, development and demonstration to make clean energy affordable, attractive and accessible to all this decade. This will accelerate progress towards the Paris Agreement goals and pathways to net zero. Launched alongside the Paris Agreement in 2015, Mission Innovation brings together governments, public authorities, corporates, investors and academia to enable widely affordable clean energy globally and achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Mission Innovation is the main intergovernmental platform addressing clean energy innovation through action-oriented cooperation. Its members represent over 90% of global public investments in clean energy innovation and have increased their annual investments by USD$5.8 billion since 2015. Mission Innovation members are committing to sustaining and, wherever possible, increasing their investment in clean energy innovation this decade.
The 23 members of Mission Innovation are: Austria, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, the UK, the USA, and the European Commission (on behalf of the European Union).
Find out more: https://mission-innovation.net/
More Information
Read more about the Integrated Biorefineries Mission: https://mission-innovation.net/missions/integrated-biorefineries-mission/
Read more about the engagement of MI members, India and the Netherlands:
https://mission-innovation.net/our-members/india/
https://mission-innovation.net/our-members/netherlands/
Media Contacts
- Mission Innovation:
Caroline Dobbin, Greenhouse +44 7971 255 843
missioninnovation@greenhouse.agency - Netherlands:
Tim van Dijk, Department of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, +31 6 15 19 49 58
t.vandijk@minezk.nl