Industrial biotech will eclipse its so-called 'red' and 'green' cousins, as industries are forced to adapt to environmental pressure, the head of global biosciences at the giant Proctor & Gamble corporation has predicted.

Sugar CRC CEO Dr Peter Twine sees the industry - with a little help from its friends in the research community - leading Australia into what he calls the 'carbohydrate economy'.

The biocatalysis group at CSIRO Molecular Science, led by Prof Michael Zachariou, has established an impressive pipeline of research and is working towards developing a more sustainable and renewable chemical industry in Australia, writes Susan Williamson.