Spider silk is a natural fabric with outstanding properties. Spider silk threads are thin but extremely elastic and at the same time as strong as steel. The German biotechnology company AMSilk GmbH produces the material in a bioreactor by converting bacteria into tiny factories for the spider silk protein. The coveted protein can be produced in large quantities with the help of the Escherichia coli microbe. The white powder obtained in this way can be processed into various products, it can even be spun into high-tech fibres.

Every year, 1.6 million people worldwide die from infections with the bacterium Streptococcus. Although there are vaccines against the pathogen, they are largely ineffective against one of the approximately 90 known variants, the so-called serotype 1, which is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa and causes many cases of meningitis there.

Globalization has many advantages for humans and technology. But for flora and fauna the mixing of native with foreign organisms can be dangerous. Because non-indigenous animal and plant species often have no natural enemies. Therefore, they spread unhindered and decimate the resources for native species. 

Microbes, fungi and bacteria are important resources for the bioeconomy. All three of them can be used either for degradation processes of biological material as for instance in a biogas plant, or for the production of materials or vegan food. However, the use and above all the international exchange of these resources is subject to strict legal requirements.

Specialised wristwatches and smartphone apps not only measure our exercise performance, but also help to systematically and individually plan our training in advance and thus help improve our performance. By now, these "wearables" are part of the standard equipment even for amateur athletes. But can the athletic performance also be controlled and improved upon by the clothing itself? 

For the second time, the German Bioeconomy Council, with the financial support of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), has invited experts on bioeconomy, innovation, and sustainability from all over the world to Berlin. The Council has been established as an independent advisory board to the Federal Government in 2009. During the Summit, which will take place on April 19 and 20, the focus will be on opportunities and challenges for an increasingly biobased and sustainable economy.

For the second time the German Bioeconomy Council, with financial support of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), has invited experts on bioeconomy, innovation, and sustainability from all over the world. The Summit will take place on April 19 and 20 at the Deutsche Telekom's Representative Office in Berlin. The focus will be on opportunities and challenges for an increasingly biobased and sustainable economy.

A warm and sunny morning in Berlin: Minister of Research and Education, Anja Karliczek, officially opened the second Global Bioeconomy Summit in front of 800 international experts at the Deutsche Telekom's Representative Office in Berlin. Julia Klöckner, Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture, will join the Summit as well and address the attendees on Friday, April 20.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) announced the launch of a new financing initiative that aims to unlock close to €1 billion of investment in the agriculture and bioeconomy sector. This large EIB lending programme for agriculture and bioeconomy outlines the Bank’s broader support for funding this sector. The operation will be guaranteed by the EU budget under the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), which forms a central part of the “Investment Plan for Europe” of the European Commission under the Juncker administration.

There are two sides to everything – even carbon dioxide (CO₂): on the one hand the rapid increase in atmospheric CO₂ concentration due to the burning of fossil fuels causes intensification of the greenhouse effect, which in turn fuels global warming. On the other hand, CO₂ is essential to keep plants, algae and some bacteria alive: they convert the greenhouse gas into biomass in a process known as photosynthesis, in which CO₂ and water are used to produce sugars and oxygen.