Shanxi province recently released a plan to develop its bioeconomy from 2023-35 and promote the application of biotechnology in economic and social development. 

With abundant bioresources, Shanxi has a solid foundation in the development of bio-based materials and the utilization of biomass energy. It is gradually forming a modern bio-industry system dominated by industries such as bio-based materials, bio-agriculture, bio-energy, and bio-medicine, with strong development potential. 

In the next three years, Shanxi will focus on developing Taiyuan into a leading city in bioeconomy, creating two distinctive agricultural industry belts, and establishing three bio-medicine clusters in the cities of Datong, Yuncheng, and Changzhi. 

Bio-agriculture

Shanxi will focus on strengthening and improving the liquor and vinegar brewing industries.

It will encourage enterprises to adopt new processes, technologies, and equipment to increase the brewing capacity of basic liquor and improve intelligent brewing production, as well as promote the construction of high-quality specialty grain bases for winemaking to ensure product quality at the source. 

The province will also develop functional drinking vinegars and fruit vinegar beverages to increase market share and turn Shanxi's mature vinegar into the top brand in China's vinegar industry. 

Bio-medicine

Shanxi will focus on developing highly-effective chemical preparations for major clinical needs such as tumors, autoimmune diseases, neurological degenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, endocrine system diseases, digestive system diseases, respiratory system diseases, and multidrug-resistant microbial infections, as well as for treating rare diseases.

It will carry out a comprehensive survey and establish a local database of local traditional Chinese medicine resources in the next three years and strengthen research on breeding new varieties with high yield, high resistance, significant therapeutic effects, and high content of active ingredients. The development of characteristic Chinese herbal extracts will be pursued to increase product value and promote their application in the prevention and control of agricultural pests and diseases. 

In the fields of health preservation and medical aesthetics, Shanxi will further develop bioactive polysaccharides and polypeptides. 

Concentrating on the prevention and treatment of major diseases, precision medicine, novel biopharmaceuticals, traditional Chinese medicine, chemical medicine, and medical equipment, Shanxi will establish clinical medical research centers, technology innovation centers, pilot experiment bases, research institutes, and key laboratories. 

Bio-fuel industry 

In the next three years, Shanxi will develop biomass power generation and clean heating. 

Efforts will be made to strengthen the straw raw material supply system, and improve the industrial chain, from straw collection, storage, transportation, and pre-treatment to the production, distribution, and application of formed fuels. 

The province will steadily develop urban waste incineration power generation, agricultural and forestry biomass power generation, biogas power generation, and biomass cogeneration. In areas with rich resources and suitable market conditions, efforts will be made to ensure that the biomass-formed fuel boilers provide renewable and clean heat. 

Efforts will also be made in the research, development, manufacturing of distributed biomass cogeneration and supporting equipment, the development of long-life, low-energy-consumption biomass fuels and forming equipment, and the establishment of a sound system for the research, development, and industrialization of biomass power generation equipment.