Biotechnology/Systems biology

"Perennial grain crops are a resource-saving alternative"

Many plants only live for one season and have to be resown every year. This also applies to important food crops such as wheat, corn and barley. However, regular sowing, plowing, harvesting and fertilizer application damage biodiversity, groundwater and soil. Maria von Korff Schmirsing is convinced that perennial crops can solve the problem. The plant researcher wants to make food production more sustainable by breeding perennial cereal crops.

"Microalgae on building facades can green the city"

Microalgae are a beacon of hope for the bioeconomy. Not only manufacturers of food and animal feed rely on them, but microalgae are also becoming increasingly important for the production of biofuel and new plastics. Linus Stegbauer now wants to establish these talented single-celled organisms in the construction sector. To this end, the Stuttgart chemist wants to develop biointelligent facade elements for buildings that are coated with a special biofilm made of microalgae.

Using bacteria to produce plastic from waste

Plastics are versatile and durable, but it is precisely their long durability that is the problem: petroleum-based plastics do not decompose and pollute the environment. Bio-based alternatives made from renewable raw materials do exist. But they are not environmentally friendly per se unless they are also sustainably produced, recyclable or biodegradable. This is the approach taken by the PHABIO APP project.

Denka buys pharming pioneer Icon Genetics

The two-phase sale of Icon Genetics was completed on August 21. Icon Genetics previous owner, German plant biotechnology company NOMAD Bioscience GmbH, already sold 51% of Icon's shares to Denka in August 2015. Now, the Japanese company has acquired the remaining 49% of shares, resulting in Icon Genetics becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Denka. According to a press release, the total acquisition amount to be paid by DENKA is a maximum of €75 million.

Building blocks made of fungi

Buildings have to be much more than four walls and a roof. They have to withstand rain and wind and provide shelter. But more recently another aspect has come into focus as well: they have to be made of sustainable material. Therefore, researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) are looking for alternative building materials.

Fuel from biowaste and electricity

Fossil resources are becoming scarce and their use is a burden on the environment. Therefore new technologies to replace these resources are needed. Part of the replacement can be achieved by employing electrical power production based on renewable resources, such as wind and solar energy. Additionally, renewable feedstocks and waste streams have to be considered as valuable precursors for the production of commodities and fuels.

Biofilms: green algae only stick in blue light

Green algae (Chlamydomonas) can form a slimy layer on almost any surface and even cause blockages in water-treatment tanks. But they can also be quite useful. For years now algae have been cultivated in bioreactors, large facilities comprised of glass tubes, to produce biofuels. However, using their small hairs, also known as flagella, green algae adhere even to these surfaces. The result: a green biofilm forms on the walls of the glass tubes of the bioreactor. Subsequently, less light penetrates into the reactor.

Quinoa: role model for salt-tolerance

Due to climate change more and more arable land is drying out, and subsequently requires irrigation in order to grow crops. However, steady and heavy irrigation causes soil salination, because the salts that are dissolved in the water are diffused into the soil and remain there after the water has evaporated. The salt in turn stunts the growth of the crops and, if left untreated, can even turn soils infertile.

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