Miller Magazine Issue 137 May 2021

76 TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM MILLER / may 2021 an idea to found a biotechnology factory capable of pro- ducing the enzymes –which we import- using the national and domestic resources, in an effort to reduce the depen- dence on foreign resources in this field. No sooner than had I returned to Turkey in 2014, I founded LIVZYM -which was another dream of mine- with a concept of technology start-up, concurrently with the in- stitute, as well. Currently, our central office in Beykoz carries on R&D ac- tivities in laboratory and pilot scales, while our factory at the Istanbul Leather Organized Industrial Zone in Tuzla carries out enzyme production operations on industrial scale. We created a team that reflects the spirit of technology start-up, by bringing together our R&D team mainly com- posed of our colleagues specialised in the field of mo- lecular biology and chemical engineering, with the names who have a remarkable management and production ex- perience in their fields. It is a truly pleasing experience to work with this team driven by the competence introduced into our country by our line of business, not to mention the economical aspect of this enterprise. In which sectors is biotechnology required the most? In which areas is the enzyme technology mostly used? As you know; the future of food and agriculture has become of critical importance upon the outbreak of COVID-19. It is predicted that the world population will reach 10 billion in 2050. Sustainable solutions are needed to meet the food needs of the growing population in the future. Biotechnology stands out as a driving force that will shape the future, owing to its transformative power in a number of areas from food to the industrial production, as it also involves several sectors. So, the importance and necessity of industrial enzymes in our lives become more evident day by day. Used as technological by-products in various sectors, the en- zymes are more eco-friendly and easy-to-apply alterna- tives, compared to their equivalents, thanks to their bio- chemical properties. Microorganisms required for enzyme production are made ready for industrial production by means of modern molecular biotechnological methods. The enzymes are used mostly in food sector, e.g. in starch, bakery, dairy, brewing and fruit juice industries. It is also used in many areas such as textile, leather, paper, feed/fodder industries, biofuel production, personal care sector and detergent industry in particular. As LIVZYM, we set it as the top priority, to ensure food and feed safety in our production strategies. One of the most important benefits of enzymes is that they contribute to the sustainability of the world owing to the solutions they offer in the field of food and agriculture. In addition, it increases the speed of production and effi- ciency in the sectors using these enzymes, and ensures that fresh water resources are preserved. As it replaces the chemical catalysts previously used for this treatment,