Bioeconomy News

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Kickoff-Event GFFA 2022
Due to the pandemic, the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture will also be held completely digitally in 2022.

GFFA 2022: Focus on soil and land use

Agricultural and food policy experts will discuss how soils can be better protected and used more sustainably at the 14th Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) this week.

Die einzellige Amöbe Dictyostelium discoideum kann sich zu einem vielzelligen Verband zusammenschließen und Fruchtkörper ausbilden, die Sporen produzieren.
The unicellular amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum can form a multicellular association and produce fruiting bodies that produce spores.

Amoebae as biofactories for natural substances

Leibniz researchers from Jena have succeeded in producing the natural substance olivetolic acid - a precursor of the cannabis active ingredient THC - in amoebae.

Katjes Werk in Potsdam
Confectionery manufacturer Katjes has been pursuing a "veggie strategy" for years.

Katjes invests in UNMILK

Through its investment platform Katjes Greenfood, the confectionery manufacturer will support the start-up UNMILK, which offers milk alternatives made from oat and pea proteins.

Pilotanlage in Dänemark
The process for producing climate-neutral methane has already been tested at this pilot plant in Denmark.

Electrochaea raises 36 million euros

Using microbial electrochemical cells, the young company produces climate-neutral methane from CO2 and green hydrogen.

Die Gründer Jonas Heuer, Max Webers, Philipp Arbter und Tyll Utesch.
COLIPI founders Jonas Heuer, Max Webers, Philipp Arbter and Tyll Utesch.

Yeast replaces palm oil

Hamburg-based start-up COLIPI gets support from the EXIST funding program of the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protectionfor the development of a climate-friendly palm oil alternative.

In der vorkommerziellen Produktionsanlage in Straubing hat Clariant Chinaschilf enzymatisch zu Bioethanol verarbeitet.
Clariant's pre-commercial production plant in Munich-Straubing already produces bioethanol from straw.

Industrial bioeconomy: Bavaria invests in scale-up plants

With a new funding program, Bavaria is supporting companies in setting up bioeconomy production plants on an industrial scale.

20.000-fache Vergrößerung der Bäckerhefe
The microbe of the year 2022, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, magnified 20,000 times.

Baker's yeast is Microbe of the Year 2022

The multi-talent of modern biotechnology has been used by humans for thousands of years.

EU-Flagge
In its second round of distributions, the EIC Accelerator is among others funding three German start-ups from the bioeconomy.

EU Accelerator funds three bioeconomy start-ups

Around 30 million euros will go to BIOWEG, CO2BioClean and Genome Biologics to research and grow.

Pflastikflaschen mit blauem Schraubverschluss
Plasticizers are found in many plastics because they make them easier to shape.

Paving the way for bio-based plasticizers

Researchers have laid the foundation for the production of sustainable plasticizers: The molecules needed for plastic production can be obtained from waste streams from food production or wood processing.

Der rote Weihnachtsstern ist ein beliebteste Zierpflanze.
More and more nurseries cultivate poinsettias in the greenhouse.

20 million Christmas stars

This year, almost every fifth houseplant produced in Germany is a poinsettia. Most of the colorful spurge plants come from North Rhine-Westphalia.

Hülsenfrüchte, Leguminosen, Ackerbohnen, Protein, Pflanzen
Legumes such as beans or lentils are important sources of protein for a healthy diet.

Tapping alternative protein sources

The development of new technologies for the processing of alternative protein sources up to the end product is the focus of a new funding programme of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

Eingang BayWa-Zentrale München
BayWa AG is strengthening its commitment in the field of sustainably produced dairy substitutes. (Image: BayWa HQ in Munich)

BayWa invests in plant-based dairy alternatives

BayWa further expands its activities in the field of alternative protein sources and invests in the Israeli food start-up YoFix Probiotics.

Kartierübung mit Studierenden bei Brackede and der Elbe (Niedersachsen /Deutschland). Diese Wiese wird einmal jährlich gemäht.
Mapping exercise with students near Brackede on the Elbe (Lower Saxony /Germany). This meadow is mowed once a year.

Ecologically valuable management of meadows and pastures

Saving species-rich grasslands is the focus of a new project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research with a total of 3 million euros over the next three years.

Omelett auf dem Teller
A plant-based herb omelet could soon replace the traditional dish.

Vegan egg alternative from the field bean

After plant-based substitutes for milk and meat, a vegan alternative for eggs is soon to conquer the market: the Berlin-based company Perfeggt has now been able to win investors for this.

Stephan Baz präentiert die umweltfreundliche Baumhülle.
Stephan Baz (Head of Staple Fiber Technologies) shows the environmentally friendly tree cover on a red maple. In the foreground: hybrid yarn variants made from flax or cotton.

Reforestation without plastic waste

Textile researchers have developed biodegradable tree covers from renewable raw materials.

Illustration zum neuen FoodCampus Berlin
View of the future Food Campus Berlin from the bank of the Teltow Canal

Think tank for sustainable food innovations

Artprojekt GmbH wants to establish a place of innovation for the future of European food production in Berlin: Construction of the Food Campus Berlin is scheduled to begin in spring 2022.

Martina Brockmeier (links); Barbara Sturm (rechts)
Martina Brockmeier and Barbara Sturm (l.t.r.)

Two agricultural experts elected to head the Leibniz Association

Two bioeconomy experts will head the Leibniz Association in the future: Martina Brockmeier, an agricultural economist from Hohenheim, was elected as the new president and Barbara Sturm, an agricultural engineer from Potsdam, was elected vice-president.

Vincenzo De Rocchis, Wilhelm Gossing und Martin Kern
The team of Kykeon Biotech with Vincenzo De Rocchis, Wilhelm Gossing and Martin Kern has won the audience award at the pitch of the start-up service of the Brandenburg TU Cottbus-Senftenberg.

Cell-free protein production convinces at pitch

The Kykeon Biotech team wins the audience award of the Brandenburg Technical University Cottbus-Senftenberg.

Ein Taucher nimmt Proben aus einer Seegraswiese.
A researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology takes samples in seagrass beds in the Mediterranean Sea. The measuring device determines the oxygen content in the seafloor.

Symbiont supplies seagrass with nitrogen

Seagrass is an important store of carbon dioxide. A bacterium enables the plant to thrive.

Ein Forscher entnimmt einer Maschine ein Elastomer.
Elastomer production in the research laboratory: At Fraunhofer LBF, new formulations for sustainable, alternative materials are developed and tested for their suitability for use.

Sustainable raw materials for elastomers

From base monomers to additives, the important plastics group is to become more bio- and residue-based.

Entfrachtungsstrecke bei STENA Recycling in Baumholder
The problems involved in recycling today's refrigerators and freezers became apparent on the de-fibering line at STENA Recycling in Baumholder.

Optimizing cooling appliances for recycling

A large-scale trial identifies key design elements for successful recycling of refrigerators and freezers.

Ein Forscher bedient ein Sequenziergerät.
This sequencer at the DSMZ generates large amounts of microbiological data. In the future, this data management is to become more standardized nationwide.

Large-scale inventory of microbial knowledge launched

The National Research Data Infrastructure for Microbiota Research has begun to create better data management nationwide.

Die Sonnenblume ist äußerst anfällig gegen Krankheiten. Forscher wollen das ändern.
The sunflower's appearance reveals nothing about its root system: the fine roots are more like those of pine trees, a study shows.

Role of fine roots in plant growth recognized

The plant's appearance reveals nothing about its roots, according to a study. More attention should be paid to the characteristics of fine roots in future development forecasts.

biologisch Abbaubare Kunststofffolie aus Agrarresten
The biofilm developed by traceless materials biodegrades within two to four weeks.

EU funding for traceless materials

The Hamburg-based start-up traceless materials was able to secure a multi-million euro grant from the European Innovation Council (EIC) for the further development of a process with which compostable biomaterials can be produced from agricultural residues.

Fischschwarm
Some fish have developed a unique filtering mechanism to screen out microplastics.

Fish gills as inspiration for microplastic filter

Inspired by fish gills, researchers want to develop a sustainable filter that screens microplastics from washing machines.

Chemresilienz Teamleitung Prof. Peter H. Seeberger und Dr. Matthew Plutschack (v.l.n.r.)
Chemresilienz Team Leader Prof. Peter H. Seeberger and Dr. Matthew Plutschack (l.t.r.)

Research factories for sustainable chemistry

A team led by Potsdam biochemist Peter Seeberger has succeeded in obtaining BMBF funding for the establishment of two large-scale research centers for the reorientation of chemical production in central Germany.

Blick von oben auf das neue Phytotechnikum auf dem campus der Uni Hohenheim
The first part of the new high-tech research greenhouse Phytotechnikum is located in the west of the University of Hohenheim campus.

Phytotechnikum: High-tech research in a glass greenhouse

The first high-tech greenhouse of the new Phytotechnikum was officially opened on the campus of the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart.

Teilweise abgebaute Folie im Ackerboden
These are the remnants of PBSA film degraded over 240 days under conventional agriculture and the climate of 2070.

Bioplastic remains readily degradable despite climate change

Microbial decomposition of biodegradable PBSA films works well under climate change conditions. However, the plastic can endanger field yields.

v.l.n.r.: Richard Hurding (CEO, Zelfo Technology GmbH) und Eduardo Gordillo (Founder & CEO, BIO-LUTIONS Int. AG)
From left: Richard Hurding (CEO, Zelfo Technology GmbH) and Eduardo Gordillo (Founder & CEO, BIO-LUTIONS Int. AG).

Innovation award for fibers from agricultural residues

CleanTech start-up BIO-LUTIONS and Zelfo Technology have been awarded the Brandenburg Innovation Prize for developing a process for producing natural fibers.

Die Solarmodule schützen die Apfelbäume u.a. vor zu starker Sonneneinstrahlung und Extremwetter.
The solar panels protect the apple trees from excessive sunlight and extreme weather, for example.

Apple trees under solar panels

An agri-photovoltaic system was set up on an organic fruit farm in Gelsdorf, Rhineland-Palatinate, to explore its potential for fruit cultivation.

Symbolbild- Einsatz digitaler technik in der Landwirtschaft
The ArtIFARM alliance researches digital solutions for resource-efficient and sustainable agriculture.

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania counts on high-tech in agriculture

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is once again promoting structural change in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and providing millions for research into artificial intelligence in agriculture.

Fahrzeuglagerhalle
Some parts in the engine compartment of vehicles could soon be made of bioplastics.

Durable bioplastics for the automotive industry

Researchers at the Institute for Bioplastics and Biocomposites (IfBB) at Hannover University of Applied Sciences want to develop bioplastics for the automotive industry that can withstand high temperatures and stresses.

Lastwagen mit Anlagentechnik zur Saatgutbehandlung der E-VITA GmbH
E-VITA® plant technology for efficient on-site seed treatment

Carefully disinfecting seeds with electrons

Ceravis AG and Fraunhofer FEP have founded a new company, E-Vita GmbH, to establish the Dresden researchers' innovative seed treatment method on the market.

Schoko-Praline
800,000 tons of chocolate and chocolate products were produced in Germany in 2019.

Cocoa-free chocolate from microbial production

The Munich-based cleantech start-up NxFoods wants to use biotechnological processes to bring a chocolate to market that does not contain cocoa but is produced in a climate-friendly and fair way.

Basilikumkräuter
Growing herbs in an indoor farm

New merger in the green farming sector

The U.S. company Kalera acquires shares worth millions in the Munich-based indoor farming specialist &ever to further expand its global market position in the vertical farming sector.

 

Bäumkronen im Wald
Satellites already provide large-scale and detailed images of the condition of forests.

New remote sensing network for forests

Making satellite data on the forest ecosystem available quickly and seamlessly is the goal of the newly established Copernicus Network Office "Wald" ("Forest").

Aufnahme von PLA-Monofilamenten im Rasterelektronenmikroskop: Bild (a) zeigt den Originalzustand. Das Material wurde dann bei einer Temperatur von 70°C zwei Wochen gealtert, bei einer Luftfeuchtigkeit von 65 %, 80 % und 95 %.
Scanning electron microscope image of PLA monofilaments: image (a) shows the original condition. The material was then aged at a temperature of 70°C for two weeks, at humidity levels of 65%, 80% and 95%.

PLA plastics suitable for air filters

Nonwovens made from the bioplastic polylactide can remove virus-laden aerosols from rooms equally well as conventional plastic filters.

Ackerfahrzeug mit Blattgrünsensor
Premosys has developed a sensor that can distinguish undesirable wild weeds from cultivated plants. This allows chemical pesticides to be used in a much more targeted manner.

More precise spraying thanks to sensor technology

A new method detects wild weeds, thereby reducing the need for herbicides in agriculture.

Exüeriment mit jungen Fichten in Glaskästen
This was the experimental setup of CO2 starvation expression on the young spruce trees.

Spruce trees in a starvation experiment

In adverse environmental conditions such as heat or drought, trees put survival processes before growth.

Arabidopsis-Pflanzen mit und ohne Hitzeprägung
Arabidopsis seedlings with imprinting (left) develop much better at moderate temperatures and subsequent heat stress than seedlings with heat stress without imprinting (right).

Molecular memory: Plants' reaction to heat stress

The meristem tissue in the shoot apex, which is important for growth, develops a memory for heat stress in plants that helps them survive. Researchers from Potsdam have observed this.