For the pharmaceutical industry, cells are little living substance factories. These provide the foundations for the production, among others, of biopharmaceuticals such as antibodies for the treatment of cancer or rheumatism. The starting point in such manufacturing processes is the development of a reliable and stable production cell line. Here, the cells of a production organism are genetically modified, and a selection is carried out of the cells that exhibit the desired properties. These are then isolated and multiplied.

The tomato is one of the most important vegetables on our dinner plates. From cherry tomatoes to beef tomatoes, there’s an enormous assortment to choose from, if you know where to find them. Many of the tomatoes commonly available in supermarkets derive from an accelerated breeding process known as smart breeding. The technique is based on genetic analyses and the presence of molecular markers in the genome of a plant.

Floods, drought, frost and hail are making the lives of farmers increasingly difficult. Until now, the consequences remain moderate. If necessary, trading relationships across national borders can compensate for gaps in crop yields, and government support can help farmers to bridge any financial shortfalls. But will it be possible to master the consequences of climate change in the future as well? What will happen if we fail to meet the international climate target of restricting global warming to under two degrees compared to the pre-industrial period?

Whether it is dyes or clothing, construction materials, cosmetic products, medicines or beyond, nanoparticles are found in all manner of products. As well as naturally occurring nanoparticles, there are many others that can be synthetically and selectively produced for use in industry. Thanks to their miniature size, the particles have different physical or chemical properties than larger particles of the same substance. They react more quickly and more strongly, and have enlarged surfaces that offer more space for active or functional substances.

Be it in the food industry, in furniture or construction materials, more customers than ever before are taking an interest in the sustainability of new products. In fact, in many instances biobased materials are now in a position to compete with the characteristics of petroleum-based plastics. Among others, Patrick Hirsch and his colleagues at the Halle-based Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems (IMWS) are working to make this an everyday reality.

Drinking water is a natural product and is comprised of around 80% groundwater and spring water. Not surprisingly, the quality requirements for drinking water are extremely high. To this end, intricate analyses provide information on water quality and reveal whether the infrastructure of the water system is in proper working order. For water utility companies, it is also becoming increasingly important to maintain precise knowledge of their water catchment areas so that the respective protected areas can be exactly defined and demarcated.

Protein purification is a complex but necessary part of biotechnological production processes. In recent years, a separation method known as membrane adsorber technology, which promises both a high degree of purity and maximal protein yield, has emerged as a potential alternative to previous approaches. The principle is based on a membrane made of an organic polymer such as cellulose or polyethylene, which contains chemical substances that interact with the produced proteins, causing them to be filtered out of the culture medium.

For the first time in modern history governments of middle-income nations are investing more than those of high-income ones. The analysed data also suggest that, globally, private-sector spending on AgR&D is catching up with public-sector spending. Meanwhile, the gap between spending by high-income and low-income countries is widening.

The primary biomass production, mainly agriculture plus forestry and fishery employs 58% of all employees but is responsible for a relatively low turnover (21%). More than a quarter of the total turnover, i. e. €600 billion, is achieved by the biobased sector.

The road map outlines ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI) has a vision of leading Europe's bioeconomy transition towards 2050 by cutting its carbon footprint by 80% while creating more than 50% more added value.