14.04.2025 Sector
Pharmaceutical industry unspecific
Medicinal herbs have been used against illnesses for thousands of years. Today, medicines are more and more often produced using biotechnological processes. Biopharmaceuticals, which include active ingredients such as antibodies, enzymes and vaccines, account for about one third of the pharmaceutical market – and their share is growing rapidly.
18.04.2025 Success story
Food Waste Agriculture sciences
In the joint project CUBES Circle, a consortium of researchers from Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin is developing and testing a symbiotic production system for the preparation of food in cities.
24.03.2025 News
Pharmaceutical industry Microorganisms Biotechnology/Systems biology
Max Planck researchers have functionalized microalgae with chitosan and magnetic nanoparticles in such a way that the movement of the unicellular organisms can be controlled - even through human tissue.
31.03.2025 News
Agriculture and forestry Plants Agriculture sciences
Growing biomass on rewetted moors and generating electricity at the same time: the feasibility of this innovative concept is currently being investigated in the MoorPower project.
27.03.2025 News
Chemistry Waste Chemistry
On March 24, the first demonstration plant that converts biogas from wastewater into climate-neutral methanol was put into operation on the site of the Mannheim sewage treatment plant.
02.04.2025 News
Agriculture and forestry Microorganisms Plant breeding research
An international research team has deciphered how legumes control the symbiotic relationship with bacteria in their root nodules via signaling pathways.
04.04.2025 News
Agriculture and forestry Plants Agriculture sciences
Not only legumes, but also crops such as sunflowers are suitable as catch crops to remove pollutants from agricultural soils. This is shown in a study by the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research.
02.04.2025 Interview
Agriculture and forestry Plants Agriculture sciences
Saxony-Anhalt wants to become a “center of the pea bioeconomy”. A research consortium led by Jochen Reif is laying the groundwork for this.
08.04.2025 Success story
Chemistry Fungi Biotechnology/Systems biology
In the MycoSorb project, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute in Straubing have developed adsorbent materials capable of removing pharmaceutical residues from wastewater.
10.04.2025 News
unspecific unspecific unspecific
The Volkswagen Foundation is supporting nine projects that address closed raw material-product cycles with a total of 11.6 million euros - including innovations for the bioeconomy.
11.04.2025 News
Agriculture and forestry Animals Biotechnology/Systems biology
Researchers at the August-Wilhelm Scheer Institute want to make the breeding of insects more efficient, resource-saving and comprehensible by expanding the InsectAI technology platform.
26.08.2019 In-Depth Report
unspecific unspecific Biodiversity
In Germany, almost 800 research institutions in the natural sciences and humanities deal with the bioeconomy. Every two years, biookonomie.de contacts these research institutes and asks them about their priorities regarding R&D, their raw materials, industrial applications, financing and number of employees. In addition to the data collected, this year six bioeconomy experts were interviewed about their assessments of the local research landscape.
14.04.2025 News
unspecific unspecific Materials sciences
In the interdisciplinary BioSHIP project, industry and science are working together to prevent the fouling of ship parts with biodegradable antifouling coatings.
16.04.2025 News
Food Plants Biotechnology/Systems biology
Researchers at Anhalt University of Applied Sciences are investigating how the protein content in oats can be optimized and thus used as an alternative protein source.
23.04.2025 News
Agriculture and forestry Microorganisms Agriculture sciences
In the SHAPE project, researchers want to specifically enrich humus with microorganisms in order to strengthen plants and make soils more fertile.
24.04.2025 News
Agriculture and forestry Plants Agriculture sciences
Researchers at the University of Hohenheim have developed two tools for the use of agricultural side streams in order to recognize and optimally exploit their potential.
09.06.2016 Sector
Automobile unspecific
The car will continue to be an important component of mobility in the future. Alternative drive technologies are on the rise in response to climate targets and international competition. Manufacturers are turning to bioplastics and biocomposites to build ever lighter vehicles, conserve resources and implement a circular economy.
22.04.2025 News
Construction Plants Bioökonomie mitgestalten
The second REWE Green Farming centre in Germany will be built in Berlin-Lankwitz by spring 2026. In future, salad mixes will be harvested all year round in the glass roof farm.
29.04.2025 Sector
Construction unspecific
Whether as a building material, for insulation or interior finishing: Renewable raw materials boast good material properties, improve the eco-balance and are often better for human health. However, even for conventional construction products such as concrete, bio-based, sustainable strategies are now available.
22.04.2025 Sector
Chemistry unspecific
While the chemical industry is still predominantly based on petroleum, a fossil raw material, it is increasingly tapping into biomass, a complex and versatile raw material. More and more companies are turning to green chemical production based on renewable raw materials and biotechnical processes.
28.04.2025 News
Chemistry unspecific Biotechnology/Systems biology
The discovery of the PHL7 enzyme was the starting point for the founding of the Leipzig-based start-up ESTER Biotech.
24.04.2025 Sector
Energy unspecific
Bioenergy from renewable resources remains an important element in the energy mix of the future. Agricultural farms can use biogas plants to produce electricity and heat. Even in a future electric mobility system, biofuels will still be needed for shipping and aviation.
24.04.2025 Sector
Agriculture and forestry Plants
Agriculture and forestry are important pillars of the bioeconomy. Plant biomass produced in meadows, fields and forests is one of the foundations of the bio-based economy. Modern cultivation technologies enable a more sustainable and resource-efficient production.
25.04.2025 Sector
Machine and plant engineering unspecific
Germany is a global leader in mechanical engineering. Modern machinery, devices and processes can help make production sustainable and efficient in any industrial or economic sector. This is why innovation in mechanical engineering is an important driver of the bioeconomy.
25.04.2025 Sector
Food unspecific
The food industry is a significant element of the bioeconomy. This is where agricultural products are processed into food and animal feed. Resource-efficient technologies help to produce healthy, high-quality and safe products.
25.04.2025 Sector
Consumables unspecific
Whether cosmetics, dishwashing and washing detergents or household appliances – a wide range of bio-based processes are already used in the production of everyday products. They enable the development of innovative consumer products with new features. Bio-based packaging solutions are also becoming increasingly popular.
30.04.2025 News
Chemistry Waste Biotechnology/Systems biology
Together with a Ukrainian partner, the Cologne-based company PAPACKS has established the first scalable supply chain for certified industrial hemp.
07.05.2025 News
Agriculture and forestry Plants Agriculture sciences
The University of Geisenheim is participating in the European HydroSoilWise project to find solutions for climate-resilient soils in horticulture and agriculture.
25.04.2025 Product
Consumables Plants
Wooden furniture is typically coated in lacquer, varnish or plastic. Natural alternatives, such as oil or wax, are more environmentally friendly, but there are other options too.
06.05.2025 News
Agriculture and forestry Plants Forestry
The European Space Agency ESA has launched its BIOMASS earth observation satellite to measure forests.
20.05.2025 Interview
Chemistry Fungi Biotechnology/Systems biology
In the MycoColors project, a team led by Friederike Hoberg is investigating the potential of fungi-based dyes for the fashion and textile industries.
30.04.2025 Studies and statistics
unspecific unspecific unspecific
Microplastics in the oceans could increase massively by 2060 - even with improved waste management. This is the result of a study by the interdisciplinary research institute Géosciences Environnement Toulouse (GET).
12.05.2025 News
Food unspecific unspecific
Investment in the production of alternative proteins reached a new high in Germany last year. This is confirmed by the State of the Industry Reports of the Good Food Institute (GFI) Europe.
06.05.2025 News
unspecific unspecific Bioökonomie mitgestalten
The European environmental and climate protection programme LIFE has launched a new funding round. Bioeconomy projects can now apply to the ‘Circular Economy and Quality of Life’ sub-programme.
22.05.2025 Success story
Chemistry Plants Biotechnology/Systems biology
From cosmetics to the food industry – in the BioTrim research project, enzymes from marine bacteria are used to modify carrageenans.
16.05.2025 News
Chemistry Microorganisms Biotechnology/Systems biology
Researchers were able to clarify how the oil-eating marine bacterium Alcanivorax borkumensis synthesises a natural detergent to destroy the alkanes contained in crude oil.
08.11.2024 News
Agriculture and forestry Animals Agriculture sciences
As part of an international research project, researchers in Braunschweig are investigating how seaweed can be successfully cultivated in offshore facilities in order to relieve the pressure on coastal areas.
11.11.2024 News
Agriculture and forestry Microorganisms Agriculture sciences
Researchers at the University of Rostock were able to demonstrate the positive environmental changes following the rewetting of a coastal moor on the island of Rügen using the diatom.
12.11.2024 News
Agriculture and forestry Plants Bioökonomie mitgestalten
According to a ZALF study, a mix of economic incentives and adapted land use models could drive the rewetting of peatlands in Europe and make the cultivation of paludiculture more attractive for farmers.
19.11.2024 News
Agriculture and forestry Plants Forestry
Researchers at Munich University of Applied Sciences have developed an AI-based method that enables a precise inventory and development forecast of forests.
