From Fossil Resources to Biomass

This course is a part of Chemistry and Technology for Sustainability, a 4-course MicroMasters series from edX.

Explore how to create a sustainable future by moving away from dependence on fossil to biomass resources for the production of food, chemicals, and energy-carriers. The key is using microorganisms and catalysts to create biobased products. In this course, you will focus on the end of the supply chain - - how to market and sell those products within a profitable business model.

Join the MOOC From Fossil Resources to Biomass: A Business and Economics Perspective if you want to advance your career and get the latest academic knowledge on creating a more sustainable biobased future.

After this course, you will have an improved understanding of other relevant disciplines, and be able to better communicate outside of your own field of expertise in chemistry or technology. You will get a solid foundation of relevant concepts in the biobased economy and biobased products such as:

An introduction to biobased sciences

Achieving sustainability

Consumer behaviour

Business

Logistics and supply chains

Economics and regulations

This course is part of the MicroMasters Program Chemistry and Technology for Sustainability: a series of 3 courses and a final capstone project designed to help you join opportunities and embrace the transition from a fossil-based economy to a biobased economy. It's especially valuable to have (or ambition to have) a career in industries such as: (bio)chemical industry, agrifood water companies, energy producers, logistics, and related (non-)governmental organizations.

Explore the other courses in the MicroMasters Program:

Biorefinery: From Biomass to Building Blocks of Biobased Products; Design new (bio)catalytic conversion routes to use biobased feedstocks to their highest potential

Catalytic Conversions for Biobased Chemicals and Products; Design new (bio)catalytic conversion routes to use biobased feedstocks to their highest potential

Capstone Chemistry and Technology - Final project and exam (only available to learners who have obtained a verified certificate in all other courses of the MicroMasters Program).

What you'll learn

• Understand the concept and importance of the biobased economy and the value of biobased products;
• Assess sustainability issues for a given biobased case;
• Decide how to implement a consumer point of view during the development of a biobased product;
• Understand commercial, financial and organizational aspects of running a biobased business;
• Understand the complexity of logistics of biobased value chains;
• Identify and qualitatively assess the major economic implications of different kind of regulations for the future of the biobased economy.