Success Stories

In the joint project CUBES Circle, a consortium of researchers from Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin is developing and testing a symbiotic production system for the preparation of food in cities.

In the MycoSorb project, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute in Straubing have developed adsorbent materials capable of removing pharmaceutical residues from wastewater.

The Munich-based power-to-gas company Electrochaea has developed an innovative process in which microorganisms convert surplus electricity into climate-neutral methane.

In the collaborative project "Bioeconomy – Understanding. Connecting. Supporting," a team led by RWTH Aachen is investigating the conditions under which the structural change in the Rhenish mining district can succeed in transforming it into a model bioeconomy region.

Plant biotechnologists in Freiburg, in collaboration with Chinese partners, have chemically reprogrammed the microspores of tomato plants. This innovation can significantly accelerate the breeding of new varieties.

In an SME innovation project, the SenseUp team has found a method to reduce the production costs of RNA molecules for crop protection by more than a factor of 1000.

In the SelWineQ project, viticulture researchers are looking for genetic markers in grape varieties in order to predict the quality of future wine by analysing leaves and to speed up breeding.

A German-Thai team is developing a biological pesticide that can withstand rain and heat. This means that certain insect larvae such as armyworms can be combated more effectively.

In the BigPharm project, researchers from Munich and Constance want to biotechnologically produce the cannabinoid delta-9-THC. In their search for enzymes for biosynthesis, they found what they were looking for in beard flowers and lichens.

As part of the ClimateCow project, researchers in Munich are developing a new type of feed additive for cattle in order to reduce the animals' methane emissions.

As part of the Biogasohol project, researchers from Rostock are working with Vietnamese partners to develop new catalysts and processes to convert carbon dioxide and methane from biogas into synthesis gas and make it usable for the chemical industry.

Researchers in Bielefeld have developed an environmentally friendly process to produce bio-based polyurethanes for high-performance composites.

Breakthroughs in breeding could lead to a comeback for this overlooked crop - especially during the climate crisis.

A study has analyzed the innovation systems of insect, plant and cultured meat products.

The Linopol project has developed a process to produce polymer intermediates from biological sources.

The BonaRes project SUSALPSII investigates how climate change in the Alps affects the productivity of grassland soils and how management can be changed in the future.

Fraunhofer researchers from Stuttgart and Leuna have investigated how valuable ingredients can be obtained in high yield from diatoms.

Researchers have further developed the process of torrefaction to improve the material and energy recovery of plant biomass.

Researchers have developed a novel microbiological manufacturing process that can produce prebiotics and sweeteners sustainably and efficiently.

In the PepTight project, researchers want to identify peptides that are able to filter special rare earths, known as lanthanides, from industrial water.

Paper has a better recycling cycle than plastics. Researchers therefore want to develop a new paper-based packaging material.

A research project examines mentalities, their backgrounds and consequences regarding the ecological-social transformation.

In the BIOSDG joint project, a research team is investigating what contribution the bioeconomic transition can make to achieving the global sustainability goals.

A new purification process promises environmentally friendly extraction of proteins for the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Many plastic and rubber products cannot do without plasticizers, but a bio-based alternative is not easy to develop.

Researchers want to establish environmentally friendly fertilizer for agriculture from manure and leaves, thus offering farmers and municipalities a new source of income.

Originally, a research team was looking for a bio-based flame retardant - but they found much more.

Researchers have developed a selenium-rich apple that can replace dietary supplements.

Bio-based, biodegradable and with good technical properties: The requirements for new plastics are high - yet new PHB composites come very close.

Fraunhofer researchers are working on an alternative to the CRISPR-Cas gene scissors. Initial successes have already been achieved.

Using shallow- and deep-rooted wheat varieties in one field, researchers aim to improve the plants' nutrient and water availability and make them more resilient.

A special process makes natural fibers more heat-resistant, enabling them to be used in engineering thermoplastics.

In the joint project IMPAC3, partners from research and industry have explored which genotypes are suitable for mixed cultivation in fields, grassland and forests.

Following the example of the Canary Island pine's bark, which defies forest fires, researchers are developing nanocellulose-based biobased fire-retardant coatings to protect wood indoors and out.

The polyethylene films commonly used in agriculture pollute the environment with microplastics. Biodegradable alternatives are therefore being searched for.

Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) is the plastic that researchers in the PHABIO APP joint project have produced biotechnologically:  It is produced from animal waste fats with the help of bacteria and is completely degradable in nature.

Bioelectrochemistry enables economically attractive microbial biofactories. In the future, the proteobacterium Shewanella oneidensis could be used in this way for acetoin production.

Modern agricultural systems must be able to meet the challenges of climate change. In the rhizosphere properties of older crops, researchers are looking for solutions for coping with environmental stress and increasing yield security.

The archaeon is to become a platform organism for biotechnology. The research project "HotAcidFACTORY" wants to create the basis for this.

Fewer pesticides for more plant protection - this is the goal of a German-Brazilian team researching antimicrobial peptides to protect citrus fruits from bacterial "cancer infestation".

A new research project aims to examine bacteria that have so far been biotechnologically largely unnoted for their suitability for the bioindustry.

Coffee grounds are more than just waste - they are a valuable resource that can be processed into new bio-based composites. A suitable method was developed as part of the idea competition project BioKaVe.

Feeding the growing world population is one of the greatest tasks of our time. To meet this challenge, the crop yields of wheat must be increased and the most suitable varieties for changing environmental conditions must be found. This is the goal of the BRIWECS project.

Partners from research and industry are working together to develop a warning system to prepare European fisheries and aquaculture for the consequences of climate change. It is intended to identify changes in endangered species at an early stage.

Simply recycling plastic? European researchers believe they can do better. By breaking it down and making its building blocks exploitable for bacteria to create valuable resources, a research consortium plans to upcycle plastics. 

Scientists in Berlin have developed an adhesive protein inspired from mussels and are able to produce the substance from reprogrammed microbes. The adhesive can be used as superglue to treat wounds and bone fractures.

Hanover researchers and their partners hope to develop peanuts with reduced allergenic potential in order to reduce the risk of an immune reaction. 

Using the bioenergy sector as an example, Jena researchers are investigating the extent to which the transition process towards a bioeconomy is affecting the existing global social inequalities.

A fuel cell with a textile anode could make various sewage treatment plants almost energy neutral and also make other biotechnological processes more economical.

Jute bags are a common sight. However, the plant's fibers are also suitable for composite materials, as researchers in the Jute Bio-Comp project are demonstrating.

A research consortium has successfully developed enzymes that allow better dyeing of synthetic fibers and prevent pilling during washing.

A German-Brazilian research association has succeeded in producing fertilizers and biopolymers from residual materials from sugar cane processing.

Enzymes are designed to modernize processes. A German team of researchers has now succeeded in doing the same in the production of sausage skins.

A database of the RWTH Aachen simplifies the analysis of new molecular genetic information from plant research.

Partners from research and industry are in the process of biotechnologically producing the basic chemical 3-hydroxypropanoic acid from carbon dioxide and hydrogen. Conventional carbon sources, however, still appear to be more economical.

Researchers from Kiel have put the product milk under the proverbial microscope and examined the entire value chain from the producer to the consumer.

The strategic alliance "NatLifE 2020" investigates the natural world for plant extracts that enhance the flavour of sugar and salt in food - in order to be able to reduce these components in food without affecting the taste.

Rapeseed is an important oilseed, however, it is genetically impoverished. Thus, 14 project partners from industry and science have developed rapeseed lines with additional features.

Microbes require optimised conditions in order to grow efficiently. To this end, Hamburg-based bioprocess engineers are developing smart computer models.

Membrane adsorbers can assist in the gentle and loss-free purification of proteins. Now, biotechnologists have optimised the technology in order to obtain cytokines for use in biomedicine.