Conclusions

In conclusion, it is evident from this examination of the possible applications of enzyme technology to rural communities, that any system must employ very simple technology, and that high-technology whole cell systems could be used to develop desired cell lines, while the micro-organisms themselves could provide the mechanism for transfer of this technology to the field. Thus, the application of technologies such as genetic engineering, mixed culture development, and microbial selection could be used to create desired micro-organisms that would then be self-replicating units within the rural community. it is likely that hydrolytic processes would be the first to have immediate impact in world development. This is based on the availability of a wide variety of natural polymers whose hydrolytic degradation would either improve existing technologies or expand the raw material availability to the rural community.

Lastly, the development of starter culture processes for propagation of these cell lines, and/or the implementation of in situ cell recycling by natural immobilization of cells onto porous inorganic materials, offer a possibility for improving and propagating this technology. The use of whole cell systems provides much potential for the application of fermentation and enzyme technology to the improvement of life in the rural community.