In many places, the consequences of climate change are already being felt in agriculture. Crop losses due to extreme weather conditions and pest infestations have increased in recent years. At the same time, agriculture is under pressure to reduce the use of fertilisers and pesticides and cut CO2 emissions. But how can the environment and climate be protected without jeopardising yields?
In order to be able to feed the growing population in 20 years' time, researchers have long been looking for alternatives. One promising option could be lab-grown meat. There is great interest in so-called cell-based meat. Numerous start-ups and research institutions around the world are now working on producing meat without animals having to suffer or be killed. To produce cell-based meat, muscle stem cells are usually taken from an animal and cultivated in a petri dish.
Conventional plug-in foams have been fulfilling this task for many decades. They are also lightweight and easy to work with. One disadvantage is that they are usually made from phenolic resins, a synthesis of phenol and formaldehyde and therefore a synthetic plastic. The production of phenolic resins can produce environmentally harmful emissions that are not biodegradable.
Whether chipboard, furniture or paper: since June last year, anyone wishing to place a wood product on the market in the European Union (EU) has had to prove that the types of wood used come from legal trade. Traders must document the type of wood and country of origin. With the ‘European Deforestation Regulation’, the EU aims to minimise the risk that the extraction of timber contributes to deforestation, damages the ecosystem through deforestation or even displaces people.
The Berlin-based foodtech start-up Formo can report another success: Following the sales launch of its first vegan cheese alternatives at the beginning of September, the fermentation specialist has gained REWE Group as a new investor. As reported by the German business newspaper Handelsblatt, the retailer was involved in a recently announced Series B financing round in which Formo was able to raise fresh capital of 61 million US dollars. Formo has now raised a total of 117 million US dollars.
The potato is the fourth most important crop in the world after wheat, rice and maize. Although there are around 5,000 potato varieties worldwide, only a few close relatives dominate cultivation, which makes the plant susceptible to pests. In view of climate change, the breeding of new resistant potato varieties is therefore becoming increasingly important.
Whether on roofs, balconies or in the field. Photovoltaic systems are an important cornerstone in driving forward the energy transition in Germany. In order to accelerate the expansion, the German government passed a corresponding law this year in the form of Solar Package I. But even solar modules do not last forever. The current service life is 20 to 25 years. A concrete recycling concept for these systems, which contain valuable materials, does not yet exist.
Peatlands are huge carbon reservoirs and a hotspot of biodiversity. However, many moors in Germany have been drained in recent decades. Due to their importance for climate and species protection, the German government has put the renaturation and protection of wetlands on the political agenda with the National Moorland Protection Strategy 2022. This also requires new utilization concepts so that farmers can cultivate the renaturalized areas in a climate-friendly and profitable way. This is where the I-Robi project comes in.
In light of a growing population and dwindling resources due to climate change, alternative protein sources for the production of new foods are becoming increasingly important. Their range is broad: legumes, algae, fungi and insects as well as proteins obtained through cell-based or fermentative processes are suitable as raw material sources for a healthy, environmentally conscious and sustainable diet. The development of innovative foods based on alternative proteins has also become attractive to investors.
The challenges of our time - from climate change and dwindling resources to food security for a growing world population - call for creative solutions. The bioeconomy offers a promising approach here: it uses biological resources and innovative technologies to develop sustainable products and processes. Research funding plays a key role in leveraging the potential of the bioeconomy, not only at national but also at international level. After all, the bioeconomy must be considered globally. This is where “Bioeconomy International” comes in.