Wood is a versatile feedstock that has always been used both as a raw material and as an energy source. The bioeconomy in particular relies on the domestic resource as an alternative to fossil raw materials in order to realise the vision of a sustainable economy. Munich scientists are now presenting a study that illustrates how the raw material is coming under pressure from climate change.
On July 25, the European Court of Justice ruled that plants created using novel genome editing methods are to be classified as genetically modified organisms (GMOs). They are therefore subject to the strict EU guidelines for GMOs.
Not only humans rely on photosynthesis by plants for the coveted oxygen. For plants themselves photosynthesis is an essential metabolic pathway. And for it to work well, they require chlorophyll – the green “blood” of plants. However, in order to produce enough chlorophyll, plants require iron, which in turn is often hardly soluble from the soil.
Plants get their nutrients from the ground via their root network. However, many nutrients are nearly insoluble or very rare. Therefore, many plants live in symbiosis with root fungi that facilitate the plants’ nutrient uptake and help them thrive under extreme conditions. In fact, more than 70% of higher plants establish an association with these fungi, so-called mycorrhiza, which are believed to be more than 400 million years old. The mutualistic association allows the plant to better absorb nutrients, such as phosphate – an especially important but rare nutrient.
Synthetic silk biopolymers developed by the German biotechology company AMSilk, headquartered near Munich, have found their way into many a industry application. Now, it will even become a part of future lightweight planes in an attempt to save fuels: Airbus and AMSilk have entered into a joint cooperation agreement to develop new composites for use in the aerospace industry.
In 2015, the United Nations formulated 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The goals are intended to help end poverty, protect the planet and achieve prosperity for all. The Leibniz Association therefore hosted a one-day conference on this topic in Berlin on 14 September. Experts from politics and science were invited to present and discuss the current state of research regarding the SDGs and their implementation. Almost 200 participants came to the Leibniz Association headquarter.
Forests are extremely important for the implementation of the bio-economy. Here, the precious raw material wood grows, which has its uses both from a material as well as an energy standpoint. Moreover, forests are indispensable as suppliers of oxygen and for storing CO2. The bio-economy therefore faces the challenge of protecting forests as a resource and minimising the conflict between nature conservation and resource use.
Dandelion is much more than a common flower - dandelion rubber is already used to make car tires. Moreover, a molecule from the dandelion root, inulin, is also added to many foods, for example as a low-calorie fat substitute. However, it is not an equivalent substitute, because yoghurt with inulin has a different texture and thus leaves a different feeling on the tongue. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (MPI-P) in Mainz have therefore investigated the physical properties of various inulin preparations.
Sustainability is a major issue for industry and business right now. Green chemistry is the tool for a more sustainable economy. For example, the activity of enzymes can be modified in such a way that they can be used in biotechnological plants for the fermentation of residues or the production of biobased materials.
For thousands of years people have been breeding crops such as wheat, maize and tomatoes. When doing so, farmers and breeders have been particularly concerned with increasing crop yields. However, targeted breeding has resulted in the loss of other useful traits and genetic diversity, and modern cultivated plants are often more susceptible to disease and have a reduced vitamin and nutrient content. The problem: Characteristics that are determined by the interplay of numerous genes cannot be restored by classical breeding.