Sinopec General Manager Zhao Dong: The development of bioenergy and biochemicals comes at the right time

(Source: China Chemical New Network)

China Chemical New Network, March 27, at the 2026 Zhongguancun Forum Annual Conference parallel forum— the Enterprise Discovery and Invention Forum— held in Beijing, Zhao Dong, General Manager of Sinopec Group Co., Ltd., said that the development of bioenergy and biochemistry is timely; in the future, priority should be given to key technological breakthroughs, the structure of the feedstock system, and the improvement of product value, among other key directions, to promote innovative development in bioenergy and biochemistry.

Zhao Dong pointed out that bioenergy and biochemistry are entering three unprecedented historical opportunities. First, the pulling force of national strategy is unprecedented. The “14th Five-Year Plan” outline has clearly defined bio-manufacturing as a future industry and a new engine of economic growth; bio-manufacturing has risen from an advanced scientific concept to a strategic deployment aimed at seizing the commanding heights of global science and technology and industrial competition. Second, the transformation of technological paradigms is unprecedented. Rapid advances in foundational technologies such as gene sequencing, DNA synthesis, and gene editing provide stronger technical support for the development of bioenergy and biochemistry. Third, the driving force for industrial transformation is unprecedented. In 2024, the global scale of sustainable aviation fuel was about 2.6 million tons, and it is expected to reach 35 million tons by 2030, achieving growth of more than 10 times; the aviation sector is expected to become an important growth point for new global bioenergy demand. Global production capacity of bio-based plastics will also increase from 2.31 million tons in 2025 to nearly 4.7 million tons in 2030. According to industry forecasts, by 2030, about 50% of the world’s chemicals will come from bio-manufacturing.

Zhao Dong said that the “14th Five-Year Plan” period is a critical stage for promoting the development of bioenergy and biochemistry in our country; priority should be given to key directions such as key technological breakthroughs, the structure of the feedstock system, and the improvement of product value, to promote innovative development in bioenergy and biochemistry.

First, develop key enabling technologies for common use, and achieve a leap in innovation capability. Synthetic biology and artificial intelligence are accelerating the transformation of the R&D paradigm of bio-manufacturing; efforts should be made to speed up the establishment of an integrated innovation system of “data + models + experiments,” to promote the transformation of bio-manufacturing from experience-driven to rational design, and from traditional trial-and-error to intelligent optimization. By strengthening the construction of platforms for key enabling technologies, enhance independent and controllable capabilities, and provide support for continuous industrial innovation.

Second, expand pathways for non-grain feedstocks to achieve diversified and reliable feedstock systems. Accelerate the transition of bio-manufacturing feedstocks from grain, straw, livestock and poultry manure, industrial tail gases, and recyclable carbon dioxide to non-grain, low-carbon, low-cost energy sources; improve comprehensive technological upgrades from feedstock collection and storage, to pre-processing, and then to efficient conversion. By building a diversified, complementary, safe, stable, and economical and efficient supply system for non-grain feedstocks, support large-scale expansion of industries such as bio-jet fuel, bio-diesel, bio-based materials, and microalgae protein, and lay a solid feedstock foundation for the long-term secure development of bioenergy and biochemistry.

Third, nurture the development of high-performance bio-based products, and promote breakthroughs in high-end applications. We should deepen cross-sector integration between bio-based products and fields such as materials science, advanced equipment, modern agriculture, green transportation, and ecological and environmental protection, to expand product use from general substitution to high value-added applications; at the same time, promote the mandatory application of bio-based products in areas such as packaging, automobiles, and construction, improve the green product certification system, cultivate stable consumer markets, and accelerate the formation of a batch of bio-based premium products whose performance is benchmarked against international standards and that hold core independent intellectual property rights. Support companies in participating in the formulation of global trade rules and carbon emission standards for global biofuels and bio-based materials, to enhance China’s voice in the global bio-industry.

A massive amount of information, precise interpretation— all available on the Sina Finance app