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We were invited to the Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI) on the University of California, Berkley campus to take part in a one day workshop, organized by Lab to Land and the Aspen Institute Energy and Environment Program, focused on advancing biotechnology for climate solutions. Geoff Hunt attended to represent Connecting Genetics to Climate.
As we learned during our own event this past May examining how genetic technologies can be used to address climate change, there is a lot of energy around this topic. But energy doesn’t always translate into action. The charge for the meeting attendees was to consider the current state of the field and discuss opportunities for, and challenges and limitations to, implementation and scaling up for impact.
Participants, who came from a variety of different fields including academic and industrial research, non-profits, and funders, agreed on the need to decrease barriers to innovation and implementation, as well as a need for increased coordination of effort across different sectors. While there was general consensus on the utility of biotechnological approaches for addressing climate change, attendees disagreed as to which sector, whether it be agriculture or greenhouse gas removal or mining or pollution removal, provided the best opportunities for having the greatest impact within the shortest timeframe.
Beyond the technical discussion, we were interested in the conversation on the role that economic forces have played, and will continue to play, in developing, implementing and sustaining different technologies. The private sector must have sufficient motivation to fund biotechnology research and implementation, and these motivations can differ by sector (for example, the insurance industry has a specific set of interests that may differ from venture capital firms). Meanwhile, the role of government is deeply impacted by politics, which can, when conditions are right, provide opportunities for playing a role in advancement of technologies, such as with the Inflation Reduction Act. Beyond funding, government agencies must also be involved in helping to set industry standards and protect intellectual property rights.
The need for engagement was a constant theme and music to the ears of an organization like Connecting Genetics to Climate. With the rise of place-based solutions, community-focused dialogue and activity will be critical for implementation of these technologies. Such communication and engagement efforts can raise awareness and inform public sentiment, critical steps for adoption of any new technology.
What role do you see for Connecting Genetics to Climate in this space? Let us know in the comments below.
