title: Current biotechnological developments in Belgium.
abstract: In recent years, actions have been undertaken by the Belgian government to promote process innovation and technical diversification. Research programs are initiated and coordinated by the study committee for biotechnology setup within the Institute for Scientific Research in Industry and Agriculture (IRSIA). As a result of this action, the main areas where biotechnological processes are developed or commercially exploited include plant genetics, protein engineering, hybridoma technology, biopesticides, production by genetic engineering of vaccines and drugs, monoclonal detection of human and animal deseases, process reactors for aerobic and anaerobic wastewater treatment, and genetic modification of yeast and bacteria as a base for biomass and energy. Development research also includes new fermentation technologies principally based on immobilization of microorganisms, reactor design, and optimization of unit operations involved in downstream processing. Food, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries are involved in genetic engineering and biotechnology and each of these sectors is overviewed in this paper.
authors.affiliation: Institut des Industries de Fermentation, C.E.R.I.A., Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Masschelein
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Callegari
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laurent
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Taeymans
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D001530:Belgium; D001628:Beverages; D001688:Biological Products; D001709:Biotechnology; D005502:Food; D007221:Industry
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products