Microalgae can produce many valuable substances, from dyes to omega-3 fatty acids or proteins, and are therefore a source of hope for the bioeconomy. They are not only used by manufacturers of food, animal feed and cosmetics. Microalgae are also becoming increasingly important for the production of biofuel and new plastics. The cultivation of these aquatic plants could also open up new business areas in agriculture.
Overfishing of the oceans is a global problem. According to the environmental protection organization WWF, 33% of commercial fish stocks are affected. In Europe, the situation is even more dramatic: In the Mediterranean and Black Seas, as much as 62.2% of stocks are considered overfished. Meanwhile, however, demand for fish continues to rise. Food tech startup Bluu Seafood wants to rebalance overfished seas with alternatives made from cultured fish cells.
Fluorine is a small atom with a big effect: For decades, the pharmaceutical industry has been using it to improve active medical ingredients. For example, fluorine can improve the binding of an active ingredient to its target molecule, increase the availability of the active ingredient to the body, or change the residence time of the active ingredient in the body. Until now, incorporating fluorine usually required complex chemical syntheses.
Almost every third startup founded in Germany in 2021 can be considered "green". This is the conclusion of the 4th Green Startup Monitor from the Startup Association and the Borderstep Institute. At 29%, the share of all startups is thus roughly at the previous year's level of 30%.
Medicine has always relied on the healing powers of nature. Plant-based active ingredients are therefore a sought-after raw material for both the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries. However, their extraction from medicinal plants such as thyme and chamomile is subject to natural fluctuations, so that the active ingredient content varies. In addition, climate change and barren soils further reduce the concentrations of the ingredients, thus lowering the quality of conventionally extracted essential oil.
Not only in terms of taste, but also nutrients, the salmon alternative made from pea protein, algae extracts and vegetable oils is said to keep up with its animal counterpart: Rich in protein, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins D and B12, but free of heavy metals and toxic waste. Because instead of being caught on a fishing rod, this salmon comes from the 3D printer in the Vienna office.
Flying powered by food scraps - that's how you could describe the vision of a team of researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS). Together with several partner institutions, the experts have developed a plant that can produce synthetic fuels and biogenic waxes from biogas. The raw material for this is biological waste.
Developing industrial biotechnology research in Germany to a top international level - that is the declared goal of the Wacker Chemical Group and the Technical University of Munich (TUM). To achieve this, the two partners have now founded the TUM WACKER Institute for Industrial Biotechnology. The institute is scheduled to commence operations as early as the coming winter semester. Wacker is funding the research there with €6 million spread over six years.