Chats for the Goals: Industrial Decarbonisation and the Circular Bioeconomy

In this Chat for the Goals we’ll explore the question - How are SDGs 9 and 12 helping to guide industrial decarbonisation and promote circular bioeconomy? 

We’ll look at some of the targets of these SDGs and reflect on progress or opportunities to help SME’s, corporates, and NGOs to drive society towards a more sustainable future. Many of these targets could support the development of biomanufacturing as a way of removing carbon from the atmosphere while also transforming the production of commodities used by our society that cause less damage to the planet.

About your presenter Peter Ralph

Distinguished Professor Peter Ralph is an internationally-respected academic and research leader in the fields of algae bio-systems and biotechnology, seagrasses, and the adaption of aquatic plants to warming and acidifying oceans. A professor of marine biology at UTS, and Executive Director of the Climate Change Cluster in the Faculty of Science, Peter led the national, multi-institutional Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Marine and Coastal Carbon Biogeochemistry Cluster, and was deputy-chair of the Sydney Institute of Marine Sciences.

He is also the founder of the NSW Deep Green Biotech Hub, a member of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Blue Carbon International Scientific Working Group of UNESCO, and an advisory panel member for the Czech Academy of Sciences Global Change Research Centre. 

Over his career, Peter has made significant advances in the understanding of photosynthetic processes in seagrass, coral, plankton and algae growing at their environmental extremes. He is currently applying his knowledge of photosynthesis to develop the algae-biotechnology sector, and to mitigate the impact of climate change using carbon capture and use technology. He wants to establish functioning examples of the circular bio-economy using algae, such as bioplastics, alternate protein sources for food and feed and waste(water) remediation. 

Peter’s research partners include international collaborators within the education, research, NGO and industry sectors. His research interests include the production of food, energy, green chemistry and bio-products using microalgae and macroalgae; mass scale algae cultivation to overcome commercialisation barriers in the algae-based biotechnology sector; photosynthetic efficient algae cultivation systems for the production of specialty chemicals, toxins, cosmetic components, valuable oils, agriculture feeds, nutraceuticals, biologics, vaccines and small molecules.

He is also interested in bioplastics (biodegradable and durable); advanced manufacturing linked to industry 4.0 technology; algal phenomics using fully automated high-throughput screening systems, and; zero waste approaches to advanced bio-manufacturing using a bio-refinery approach.

Recognising his outstanding contribution to research, Peter was awarded the 2012 UTS Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Research Excellence (Research Leadership), and the 2018 UTS Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Research Excellence (Researcher Development, including Supervision). He has authored more than 280 publications, including research articles, books and book chapters, and has attracted over $15 million in research funding.