Bioeconomy News

The updated roadmap of the European Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) includes new sectors and focuses on multi-value-chain approaches.

A participatory ecological experiment involving anglers and scientists has resulted in a more sustainable management of freshwater fisheries ressources.

Researchers from Kaiserslautern, Bochum, and Rostock modified biodiesel. The new product can now be used for conventional engines without further dilution.

Plant molecular biolologists from Gatersleben and Kaiserslautern use the CRISPR-Cas system to visualise genomic sections and to decipher their functions. 

Evonik and the Taiwanese company Sungo team up to create a drinking bottle made from more than 50 percent renewable raw materials, such as palm kernel and coconut oil.

Brazilian scientist Marcelo Tabarelli received the Humboldt Research Award by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. He investigates how mankind affects biodiversity in rainforests.

Advances in biotechnology have paved the way for resurrection biology. But naming the “new-old” species might be tricky according to German law experts.

German engineers transform biowaste into high quality biocoal. In a second step syngas is generated to produce electricity.

The viral disease rhizomania is a severe sugar beet pest. In Danish relatives of beets researchers have identified a powerful resistance gene.

Size-selective fishing influences genetic traits of fishes within only a few generations. This is the result of a long-term experiment of German und Finish evolutionary biologists.

The annual EU Green Week 2017 hosted the Green Awards in Brussels. Innovations that turn bakery waste into biofilms and separate salt from water were awarded.

The role of soils within the context of the Sustainable Development Goals was discussed during the Global Soil Week. Roughly 300 experts met in Berlin for this conference. 

Researchers at Hohenheim University deciphered the origin of differing behaviours between honey bees. Specific chromosomal structures define how they experience their surroundings.

A recycled bag produced in a marine animal design: Therewith a german-indonesian researcher initiative aims to fight against plastic waste. Now they started a crowdfunding campaign.  

Growing fresh herbs in a smart greenhouse in your kitchen: Munich-based startup Agrilution receives millions from investors Osram and Tengelmann.

A billion-dollar merger is occuring in the chemical sector: Clariant is planning to merge with US company Huntsman. Their headquarters will be in Switzerland.

The Hamburg-based startup Bio-lutions uses fibres from agricultural plant waste to manufacture packaging materials. They won the award at a conference on bio-based materials in Cologne.

The sixth International Bioeconomy Conference in Halle put a spotlight on novel innovations for a bio-based economy. This year's partner country was France.

As part of their initiative Bayer ForwardFarming the pharma company is now funding their fifth sustainable farm – this time in the Netherlands.

Since they are often water-repellent, removing bacterial biofilms is very difficult. Munich-based researchers found out how these biofilms repel water by mimicking plants.

A body of research has shown the negative consequences of microplastics for aqueous life. Now, a seminal paper that had demonstrated behavioural changes in fish was retracted.

The global cultivation area of GMO crops is growing, but Europe and especially Germany remain sceptical regarding the usage of GMOs.

The consumption of bioethanol as part of the petrol market has increased slightly in Germany. In 2016 1.2 million tonnes of bio-based ethanol has been added to fuels.

More than 250,000 Europeans voiced their support for a change in the agriculture industry towards sustainable farming policies across Europe.

Industry 4.0 via digitalization spanning robots and bio-based economy – that is the main message of the Hannover Messe 2017.  

The German Research Foundation (DFG) is funding 17 new Priority Programmes with a total of €100 million. Three of the Life Science projects are focused on bio-based economy.

Global climate change is costing the wine industry billions of dollars each year. An international team of researchers established a “Global Risk Index for Wine Regions”.

Berlin-based researcher establish new analysis of origin for frog legs. The specific pattern of isotopes within each animal can tell, whether they indeed stem from sustainable farms.

A global event for the freedom of science taking place on April 22. In Germany demonstrations are planned at 20 sites - from Berlin to Heligoland.

Emmanuelle Charpentier discovered the revolutionary genome editing tool CRISPR-Cas. Now she will head her own Max-Planck research unit in Berlin.

Extreme weather occurrences are endangering harvest yields worldwide. To enable more precise weather forecasts a new Land-Atmosphere Feedback Observatory (LAFO) will be established.

A pan-German collaboration of Audi, BASF, and Covestro developed a new bio-based car coating. Thus reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions during production.

Dortmund-based biochemists are able to draw patterns in cells. All that is needed to paint with “molecular ink” is a laser and light sensitive molecules.

Tropical forests are being more and more fragmented. Leipzig-based scientists assessed that this increases carbon dioxide emissions by an additional third.

BASF acquired the licence for the genome-editing tool CRISPR-Cas from Boston’s Broad Institute. Now the company can utilize the tool for its global enterprises.

The synthetic silk biopolymer produced by Amsilk found its way into nail polish: Together with Ocean Pharma the new product will be unveiled at in-cosmetics Global in London.

Aquacultures are polluting Chile's rivers with a cocktail of dissolved organic substances. An international team of researchers establishes new safety limits.

The DNA molecule offers countless structural possibilities. Dresden-based scientists developed a synthetic envelope to protect the sensitive building blocks.

International experts from politics and industry gathered in Berlin to discuss the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

New addition: A branch of the European Forest Institute has just opened in Bonn. The institute conducts research on forests at a pan-European level and advises policy makers.

Venture capital firm Sofinnova has raised €106 million for its Industrial Biotech I fund, which aims to invest in bio-based industry start-ups.

The start-up InnoCow is presenting a new diagnostic tool for dairy cows at the CeBIT. It provides farmers with information about the health and impending heat of their cows.

Pneumococci can cause severe pulmonary and inflammatory infections. Max Planck researchers identified a successful vaccine consisting of only three adjoined sugars.

Removing micro pollutants from sewage is commonly done via activated charcoal, which consists of fossil mineral coal. Fraunhofer researchers aim to replace coal with renewable resources.

The companies DSM and Evonik founded new joint venture "Veramaris" to produce omega-3 fatty acids from marine algae. Salmon farms will benefit from the new source of essential fatty acids.

Digital tools are gaining momentum among farmers. With its smart feeding software for dairy cows the start-up "fodjan" has attracted new investors.

So far the processing of copper ores requires the application of toxic chemicals. A new Chilean-German research project aims at an eco-friendly product from marine bacteria.

The German University of Hohenheim and the Ethiopian university Hawassa received 2 million euros in funding to start their SDG graduate school program investigating food security.

Mussels could serve as a blueprint for the environmentally friendly production of complex polymers. Max-Planck researchers in Potsdam deciphered the intricate process.

The muli-million-dollar global XPRIZE competition to explore and map the ocean floors has reached its semi-finals. Still on board is the German team "Arggonauts".

An international study finds the rates of alien species introduction worldwide are higher than ever. A third of all first introductions were recorded between 1970 and 2014.

According to a market analysis from nova-institute, last year's production capacity for bio-based polymers grew by 4% to 6.6 million tonnes.

GLS, a bank specialising in sustainable investments, has set up a crowd-investing platform for businesses and projects.

Whether it's cosmetics or washing detergents — surfactants are used extensively in industry. Bio-based rhamnolipids are one of the biggest current trends.

Europe's largest field laboratory for biodiversity research celebrates anniversary: 15 years of the "Jena Experiment".

A satellite carrying tomato seeds is expected to be launched into space before the end of the year. German researchers will test the growth under conditions found on Mars or the moon.

Researchers from Karlsruhe have investigated the effects of land-use change on the balance of carbon dioxide. Land restructuring causes more CO₂ than anticipated.

So it exists after all: the microbe that eats both rust and methane. After a long search, Max-Planck researchers in Bremen have found such a multi-talent.

A European study says that the ban of a certain class of insecticides to protect bees causes a lot of ecologic and economic burden.