Bioeconomy News

Number of search results: 868

Intestinal bacteria produce mussel adhesive

Researchers from Berlin managed to reprogram the intestinal bacteria E. coli in such a way that they generate the underwater adhesives as seen in mussels.

iGEM Team München 2017 wurde Vizeweltmeister in Boston
15 German teams travelled to Boston for the iGEM finals. The result: eight gold medals, three silver, and three bronze medals.

German iGEM teams big in Boston

The 15 German teams at the finals of the iGEM competition for synthetic biology did very well: no overall win, but they received eight gold, three silver, and three bronze medals.

The 2017 Lancet report describes irreversible environmental damages due to man-made climate change, impending famine especially for warmer areas, and spreading diseases due to expanding territories of vermin.

Report: How climate change affects health

In the "Lancet Countdown" report, international experts from basic research to political scientists analyse the relationship between public health and climate change.

Clariant plant Fusion mit US-amerikanischen Chemieriesen Huntsman
Clariant will invest in a new full-scale commercial biorefinery in Romania for the production of cellulosic ethanol from agricultural residues using its sunliquid® technology.

Clariant to build new biorefinery in Romania

The swiss specialty chemicals company Clariant is set to build a sunliquid® cellulosic ethanol plant in Romania.

The new bioleaching method for metal recovery takes place within the BioXtractor. The system is built to be easily dis- and reassembled and can be explored by enterprises interested in a test phase prior to joint further development.

Microbes isolate precious metals in pilot plant

The German industrial biotech company Brain AG has developed a new bio-leaching method to isolate and retain metals by breaking down waste and ore.

Eine wichtige Quelle für Feinstaub: Landwirtschaftliche Ammoniakemissionen aus Düngung und Viehzucht.
A major contribution to air pollution: agricultural ammonia emissions from manure and fertilizers.

Fewer ammonia emissions could save lives

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute in Mainz calculated that reducing agricultural ammonia emissions from manure and fertilizers decreases air pollution and reduces mortality.

Mooszellen in einem Erlenmeyerkolben
Moss cells in an Erlenmeyer-flask

Green chemicals from moss

A new EU project headed by Ralf Reski in Freiburg will promote the environmentally friendly production of specialty chemicals from genetically modified moss.

Mit Holzkohle rückt als alternativer Bodendünger zunehmend in den Fokus der Forschung.
Biochar can be used as an eco-fiendly fertiliser, albeit a not very efficient one. Co-composting it with manure, however, creates an organic coating that improves and speeds up its fertiliser qualities.

Manure coating improves biochar's fertiliser qualities

Geomicrobiologists from the University of Tübingen demonstrate that co-composting of mixed manure and biochar creates an organic coating, which improves its fertiliser properties.

Schleimige Jagdwaffe: Stummelfüßer fangen ihre Beutetiere mit einem schleimigen Sekret, aus dem sich Polymerfasern bilden, wenn sich die Opfer bewegen.

Slime that turns into deadly fibres

Researcher in Kassel and Potsdam identified shear forces as the mechanism that turns the slimy secretion of velvet worms into stiff polymer fibres, which can even be recycled.

Auch Mauerbienen wie diese Natternkopf-Mauerbiene (Osmia adunca) sind vom Insektensterben betroffen.
Due to their many functions as pollinators or prey, the loss of 75% of insects couls cause "ecological Armageddon".

Vanishing insects across Germany

A long-term study by researchers in the Netherlands, the UK and volunteers across Germany found a 75% decrease of flying insects over the last 27 years.

Der Kauf der BASF umfasst Saatgutschäfte für Nutzpflanzen wie Raps, Baumwolle und Soja. Sie sollen das Pflanzenschutzgeschäft der BASF strategisch ergänzen.
BASF has since signed an agreement to acquire significant parts of Bayer’s seed and non-selective herbicide businesses for approximately €5.9 billion.

BASF signs billion-euro deal with Bayer

BASF has signed an agreement for €5.9 billion to acquire significant parts of Bayer’s seed and non-selective herbicide businesses.

 

getrocknete Quinoa-Pflanze
Quinoa is a naturally salt-tolerant plant. Special bladder cells on the surface of the leaves absorb salt. The process is controlled by specific gene activity.

Quinoa: role model for salt-tolerance

Special bladder cells on quinoa leaves remove salt from the plant metabolism. Researcher at the University Würzburg identified specific gene activities underlying this mechanism.

Evonik setzt auf die Herstellung pflanzenbasierter Kosmetikwirkstoffe.
Evonik opened a new production site in Tours, France. It will be developed into a centre for plant-based cosmetic active ingredients.

Evonik: new centre for plant-based cosmetics

The speciality chemicals company Evonik is opening a new site in Tours, France. The new production site will focus on plant-based cosmetic active ingredients.

Green algae can switch their ability to adhere to surfaces on and off by means of light. In the presence of blue light, their two fine hairs, called flagella, stick to a surface. Under red light conditions algae don’t attach to surfaces.

Biofilms: green algae only stick in blue light

Green algae cause biofilms that wreak havoc for bioreactors and other structures. Göttingen-based researchers found that red light hinders surface adhesions.

Myanmar: at the longest teak wood bridge in the world parts of the wooden beams, some of which are more than 150 years old, need to be exchanged. The old wood will be reused as handrails and benches.

Old wood useful for more than firewood

Researchers at Fraunhofer WKI developed new technologies to recycle wood without diminishing its quality.

Pearl millet genome deciphered

Scientists from Gatersleben helped decipher the genome sequence of the pearl millet, a drought resistant crop plant that grows even on nutrient-deficient soil.

Drop-in Kraftstoff aus Biomasse und elektrischer Energie.
Researchers have shown that the combination of microbial and electrochemical conversion of complex biomass can yield valuable products.

Fuel from biowaste and electricity

Leipzig-based researchers have shown that the combination of microbial and electrochemical conversion of biomass can yield valuable products such as fuel.

Die Tubulusmembranen (grün und gelb) des Pyrenoids sind umspült von einem “Meer” aus Rubiscoenzymen (blau).
Algae concentrate the carbon dioxide binding enzyme Rubisco n a microcompartment called pyrenoid. Surprisngly, the pyrenoid behvaes like a liquid instead of an expected solid crystall structure.

Algae bind carbon with liquid compartment

Algae fix carbon dioxide more efficiently than land plants. An international research team deciphered the surprisingly liquid mechanisms behind it.

Umfangreiche Tests mit Envirals Rohstoffen wurden in der vorkommerziellen Anlage von Clariant in Straubing, Deutschland, durchgeführt.
Clariant and Enviral conducted extensive tests of Enviral's feedstock with Clariant's technology to ensure effective and efficient compatibilityat Clariant's pre-commercial sunliquid demonstration plant in Straubing (Germany).

Clariant licenses technology to Enviral

Swiss chemical company Clariant and Slovakian bioethanol specialist Enviral announce first license agreement on Sunliquid Cellulosic Ethanol Technology.

Lene Lange, biorefinery expert from Denmark, held the keynote lecture during the first day and highlighted the diverse possibilities of bioconversion.

Bioeconomy conference in Stuttgart

What will the industry of tomorrow look like? 350 experts discussed future directions during the second international bioeconomy conference in Stuttgart.