Abstract:

Biomanufacturing is a green production that applies such bio-organisms as plants, animals, microorganisms, enzymes as well as in vitro synthetic enzymatic biosystems, to process and/or synthesize numerous value-added compounds, which would change the world's future of industrial manufacturing in the energy, agricultural, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries. The competition of biomanufacturing is a key part of the battlefield of science and technology. Here we attempt to apply the ancient Chinese philosophy to provide enlightenment to the future development of industrial biomanufacturing. The ancient Chinese philosophy of "Tao-Fa-Shu-Qi" encompasses four key elements: "Tao is a way or direction, Fa is rules, Shu is techniques, and Qi is tools for accomplishing goals". First, we define and explain the "Tao and Fa" of industrial biomanufacturing analyzes. Second, we analyze the limits and restriction set by Fa. Third, we expound this philosophy of "Tao and Fa" and how it guides way or choice of biomanufacturing type for the desired products. Based on "Tao-Fa-Shu-Qi", we also present some predictions that a few hot products cannot be manufactured economically by seemingly-promising new techniques based on the limits and restriction of Fa. We take Amyris, a pioneering American company in synthetic biology as an example to analyze and discuss the important roles of "Tao and Fa" in the selection of biomanufactured products, far more important than "Shu and Qi". Amyris' failure was destined at its beginning because it went a wrong way (Tao) and ignored basic laws (Fa), although it exhibited advanced abilities of technologies and tools ("Shu and Qi"). Also, we briefly discuss opportunities and challenges of ensuring food security of China by using two disruptive technologies-making synthetic starch from lignocellulosic biomass and carbon dioxide catalyzed by in vitro synthetic enzymatic biosystems. In a word, the ancient Chinese philosophy "the way is simple, from top to down, the way guides techniques and tools" would provide top-level design methodology, identify the future research and development priorities in industrial biomanufacturing, and help effectively solve the major challenges, such as food security, dual carbon goals, and sustainable development.

Key words: biomanufacturing, bioeconomy, cultural confidence, Tao-Fa-Shu-Qi, food security

摘要：

生物制造是利用生物体（如植物、动物、微生物、酶、体外多酶分子机器等）的机能进行物质加工与合成的绿色生产方式，将在能源、农业、化工和医药等领域改变世界工业制造格局，是科技战必争之地。作者应用中国古代哲学的“道、法、术、器”思想“道以明向，法以立本，术以立策，器以成事”，对工业生物制造的道与法进行解释与剖析，阐明顶层设计对生物制造的哲学指导意义。以美国合成生物学先驱公司Amyris为例，作者分析与讨论该公司产品选择以及隐含“道与法”，尽管该公司具有优秀“术与器”，但是走错道与不懂法决定该公司的失败命运。同时，作者简单地讨论二个人工淀粉合成技术的经济可能性与未来技术研发方向。总之，中国古代哲学思想“大道至简，从上而下，以道御术”，将对工业生物制造的未来发展提供顶层设计方法学上的启发与指导，将更有效地解决粮食安全、双碳目标与可持续发展等重大挑战。

关键词: 生物制造, 生物经济, 文化自信, 道法术器, 粮食安全