TU Delft and the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) are to collaborate on helping Malaysia to develop a sustainable bio-based economy, built on Asian natural resources.
The attractions of the collaboration for the Netherlands are that UTM has a great deal of expertise in agro-processing technology and that Malaysia is one of the country’s key trading partners. The first steps will involve the development of a curriculum and the establishment of a joint R&D programme in the area of process design and bio-process design.
The sustainable use of biomass is a major field of research at TU Delft. Biomass, such as plant residues, offers enormous potential as an environmentally-friendly alternative to fossil fuels. It is also an excellent feedstock for the chemical and materials industries. But for the use of green feedstock to be made truly sustainable, it is essential that a balance be struck between ecological, humanitarian and economic objectives. The technology should not be implemented at the expense of ecosystems and food production.
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