With its 'high-tech strategy', the German government has paved the way for more sustainable economic activities. But how can the topic of sustainability be anchored more firmly in Germany whilst at the same time strengthening the country’s position as an innovation and technology hub? This is the question that the 'Sustainable Management' ('Nachhaltiges Wirtschaften') Expert Forum, part of the German government's Hightech Forum advisory group, has put at the top of its agenda.

A single gene regulates the length of female reproductive organs, thus helping avoid self-fertilisation. This discovery means that plant geneticists working with Michael Lenhard at the Institute for Biochemistry and Biology at the University of Potsdam have solved a centuries-old puzzle. Together with colleagues from England, Switzerland and Japan, the researchers wrote up their findings in the scientific journal eLife. The gene produces an enzyme that subtly alters the flower's hormonal balance.

“There is not a single global bioeconomy. It's local by nature.” According to the Lodz Declaration of Bioregions, drafted at the European Bioeconomy Congress Lodz 2016 and published by stakeholders of the Central and Eastern Regions today, the bioeconomy must be first developed in local biocommunities, i.e. biovillages, biocities or bioregions.

The research initiative coordinated by the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) aims at quantifying the sensitivity of ecosystem functions and their subsequent ecosystem services to environmental pressures in representative agriculturally dominated landscapes in Europe. The project receives funding within the BiodivERsA/FACCE initiative.

This gives the new TUM School of Bioengineering (MSB) a strong accent as an Integrative Research Center. Synthetic biotechnology integrates the methodological research approaches of biochemistry, bioinformatics, catalysis, and industrial or “white” biotechnology. The scientific groundwork was done by a research team headed by the chemist Prof.

With the inauguration of the TUM Catalysis Research Center (CRC) at the Garching campus, the Technical University of Munich (TUM) wants to advance catalysis research. Scientists from different departments at the TUM will collaborate with industry partners at the CRC to research new ways of using the catalysts for a sustainable economy. The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) contributed €84 million to the total construction cost of the newly erected facility.

Earlier this year, Monsanto let Swiss agribusiness giant Syngenta slip through its hands. After several rejected takeover attempts, Syngenta eventually agreed to be acquired by Chinese chemical corporation ChemChina for €39bn. Now, Monsanto is apparently on the lookout for new expansion targets.

According to reports by Reuters, sources says that the US company has approached Bayer AG with an interest towards acquiring the German company’s crop science unit. A potential takeover would be worth more than US$30bn, the reports says.

The aim is to build up a world-leading position for furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) and the polyethylenefuranoate (PEF) based on it. The recyclable PEF is tougher than conventional plastics, making it particularly suitable for food and beverage packaging films and plastic bottles. Building on Avantium’s YXY process for the production of FDCA, the JV will produce and market FDCA and also market the resulting PEF.

Bayer’s new partner, based in Redmond, Washington is involved in a wide range of space-based enterprises, including asteroid mining. With the new deal, Bayer intends to purchase data from Planetary Resources to create new agricultural products and improve existing ones. The new collaboration will be part of Bayer’s Digital Farming Initiative. Financial details were not disclosed.

Experts, enthusiasts and inventors from over 70 cities from 37 countries took part in the international event to exchange ideas and numerous prototypes of the circular economy of tomorrow. Two years ago, the French/German founders of the association Circular came up with the idea behind the events. More than 900 participants came to this year’s OSCE Days in Berlin. The challenges of the circular economy were discussed in presentations, podium discussions, exhibitions and work groups.