Bioeconomy News

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The new EU Novel Food Regulation, in effect since January 2018, now allows insects or insect-based products as food across Europe. Particularly in Germany, however, the public opinion is still very sceptical when it comes to eating insects.

EU paves way for insect-derived food

Since January 2018, insect-derived food can be commercialised according to the rules of the new Novel Food Legislation.

Diese Computermäuse bestehen aus Polymilchsäure
A new computer mouse developed by Hannover researchers is made of 83% renewable raw materials based on sugar cane.

Computer mouse made of sugar cane

Yoghurt cups and water bottles made from polylactic acid are en vogue. Material scientists in Hannover have developed a computer mouse housing material based on sugar cane.

The thal cress protects itself against small insects with sharp and hardened hairs. The very tips of these trichomes are incrusted with calcium phosphate for increased stability and strength.

Teething plants

According to Bonner botanists many more plants than previously thought use calcium phosphate, a component of teeth and bones, to strengthen their defensive hairs and thorns.

Fraunhofer researchers develop paintings and varnishes based on potato starch.

More than mash: paints from potatoes

Fraunhofer researcher from Potsdam and Stuttgart develop new paints and varnishes based on potato starch. A special chemical process is optimising the starch for this application.

Potentilla reptans (Kriechendes Fingerkraut) in der Simulation mit dichtwachsenden Nachbarn.
Plants can choose the best strategy to receive sufficient light – depending on the surrounding growth. Here: The plant Potentilla reptans is growing under simulated sparse vegetation.

Knowing when and where to grow

Plants have several strategies to receive sufficient light. Now, Biologists from Tübingen University demonstrate that plants can choose between alternative responses to competition.

Researcher at the University Mannheim and BRAIN AG develop new 3D skin models in order to provide better tests for cosmetics. Picture: 3D spheroids aged 7 days; red: basal cell layer; green: differentiated epidermal layer.

3D skin models to reduce allergens

Researchers at the Mannheim University of Applied Sciences and BRAIN AG develop new three-dimensional skin models. These allow for more realistic screenings for health care and cosmetics.

Kunst-und Designstudenten sind aufgerufen, ihre Visionen der Bioökonomie von Morgen zu entwerfen.
Students are invited to submit their artistic visions of the future of bioeconomy in an art competition for the global bioeconomy summit taking place in April in Berlin.

Visions in bioeconomy

Students from all over the globe are invited to present new ideas for a biobased economy as part of an art competition. The winners will be exhibited at the global summit in Berlin.

Researchers introduced the metabolic pathway of astaxanthin into the model plant tobacco. Subsequently they used horizontal gene transfer between the model plant and the tree tobacco, resulting in an orange-colored tree tobacco plant (left)

Transforming plants into bio-factories

Molecular plant physiologists in Golm managed to engineer the chloroplast DNA of the tobacco plant. Via horizontal gene transfer they were able to produce the carotenoid astaxanthin.

Fließbandarbeit: Das Chaperonin-System hilft dabei, die Rubisco-Untereinheiten korrekt zu falten und zum funktionellen Enzym zusammenzusetzen. Rubisco ist das Schlüsselenzym der Photosynthese.

Bioengineering improves photosynthesis

Biochemists in Munich managed to improve the photosynthesis process by generating the Rubisco enzyme in a bacterial host. This could also boost future crop yields.

A new DNA origami technique by Hendrik Dietz and colleagues allows for the self-organisation of „gear-wheels“ from V-shaped building blocks. In a next step, these gears form tubes with a size comparable to virus capsids or organelles.

Nanotechnology allows for larger 3D structures

A new technique enables Hendrik Dietz at TU Munich to build DNA origami structures the size of viruses, while also reducing the cost of production substantially.

At the end of the GreenUp Invest event in Berlin two winners were chosen: Munich-based Hawa Dawa who develop a high-resolution air quality map (2nd from left), and Scandinavian Polylabs, who produce biobased plastic (2nd from right).

Greentech start-ups looking for investors

17 green start-ups were competing for potential investors in Berlin. Biobased plastic produced in Sweden and a map for air quality developed in Munich convinced the panel.

The nova-Institute surveyed 224 biorefineries across Europe and categorized them according to the biomass used and their end products. The different categories are clustered depending on available raw material.

Mapping European biorefineries

According to a recent study, there are 224 biorefineries online in Europe. The platforms differ by region, depending on the available resources.

Der ursprünglich aus Mittelamerika stammende Westliche Maiswurzelbohrer (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera) tritt immer häufiger auch in Deutschland auf.
The western corn rootworm is a devastating pest of maize plants, which originates from Central America but has spread throughout Europe. It uses the defensive toxins of the plant to ward off enemies of itself.

Maize pest turns plant defense on its head

Researchers in Jena found out why the corn rootworm is such a devastating pest: it exploits the plants defenses and then uses it against potential enemies.

Mussels are developing their shells early in life: between their first and second day they form a calcified shell, which equals the weight of the rest of their body. If the pH levels in the water are too low they cannot form the shell.

Acidic oceans destroy mussel shells

According to researchers in Kiel, the increasing acidification of the oceans cause growing problems for mussels when developing their shells.

When the green algae come close to Pseudomonas protegens bacteria, the bacteria release orfamid A, a lipopeptide that causes the algae to lose their flagella and inhibits their growth.

How bacteria and algae talk

Pseudomonas bacteria can immobilise microalgae within moments. Researchers from Jena identified orfamid A as the chemical culprit.

The thistle tortoise beetle feeds on thistle leaves. However, the beetle is only able to digest the plant cell walls because of a symbiont bacteria that compensates for the lack of digestive enzymes.

Bacteria enable beetles to digest leaves

Researchers from Jena report that the symbiosis of the thistle tortoise beetles with a specific bacterium allows them to digest plant cell walls.

Munich-based researchers deciphered the complex genome sequence of goatgras. The original qualities of this wheat-ancestor could improve targeted breeding of the modern, cultivated plant.

Original genes optimise wheat cultivation

Researchers in Munich deciphered the complex genome sequence of goatgras. This ancestor of the common wheat could improve targeted breeding.

Biodiverse fall forest in Germany with Norway spruce, beech and birch trees. A biodiverse forest provides higher ecological and economical yield.

High biodiversity equals high functionality

According to a new report by researchers from Leipzig University, the economic and ecological value of any forest increases with its level of biodiversity.

The new Green Finance Cluster in Frankfurt is open: it will connect sustainable innovations and funding opportunities.

Frankfurt: opening of new Green Finance Cluster

The new Green Finance Cluster in Frankfurt is open for business. The goal: to pair up sustainable innovations and funding opportunities.

The so-called heat island effect in cities causes warmer temperatures and accelerates tree growth compared to rural trees. However, the faster growth also speeds up the ageing of trees.

Urban climate speeds up tree growth

According to a new study by Munich researchers, warmer temperatures in cities speed up the growth of urban trees and let them age faster.