With digital sensors to healthier plants

When a crop shows symptoms of pest infestation or nutrient deficiencies, it is often too late to prevent yield losses. However, the earlier a problem is detected, the more effectively farmers can intervene. Digital sensors can be an important tool for this. The "FarmerSpace" research project is investigating which methods are suitable, what they can do, and also how they can interact. The German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) is funding the project from February 2020 to February 2023.

Mulching with hybrid paper

From its invention around 2,000 years ago in China to today's high-tech material, paper production has come a long way. There are now around 3,000 types of paper - and yet there is no suitable solution for all needs. This is the case, for example, when it comes to replacing mineral oil-based plastics. The "New Hybrid Paper" (NewHyPe) research project has set itself the goal of finding such a solution for two applications at once.

A bio-based wood protection against fire

Building with wood is trendy and sustainable. But the popular material has one drawback: It is inherently flammable. However, conventional fire-retardant coatings are rarely environmentally friendly because they are mostly made from fossil raw materials. Nature is now becoming the inspiration for the development of a biobased fire-retardant coating for wooden buildings.

Bioeconomy ship on tour again

Since the beginning of June, it's been time to cast off again for the hands-on exhibition on the bioeconomy aboard the MS Wissenschaft (MS Science). Commissioned by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the converted cargo ship will stop at a total of 30 locations in Germany and Austria between now and October 26. After an eight-month break, the ship dropped anchor in Hamburg on June 5 as the first stop on the second tour. After Glückstadt and Rendsburg, the exhibition ship will also call at Kiel and Hildesheim in June.

How bio-based products are transforming the economy

The transformation to a biobased economy is in full swing. Start-ups, but also established large corporations, are increasingly producing biobased products using new, often biotechnological production processes. The economic development agency of the German state of Hesse therefore organized the online conference "Biofabrik" on May 25 and 26, 2021, at which experts from business and science presented current developments.

Research alliance for cell-based meat

It's a win-win solution that has so far mostly failed because of the price: Cell-based meat could allow meat lovers to consume without moral, environmental, and climate concerns. There have been research projects on this since the 1970s, but commercialization has always failed due to production costs. Merck, the Darmstadt-based chemical and pharmaceutical company, now wants to change this and is seeking research cooperation with Darmstadt Technical University and Tufts University in the United States.

Biotech silk pioneer AMSilk expands market presence

AMSilk is accelerating its growth: The world's first commercial supplier of high-tech biopolymers made from artificial silk has received further financing from its existing as well as additional investors. This means that the company, which is based in Martinsried near Munich, has access to an additional 29 million euros. The biotech specialist intends to use this money to "accelerate industrial scale-up and expand commercial operations to new markets."