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.
23.03.2016 Success story
Agriculture and forestry Fungi Forestry
German fungus researchers from Tübingen have developed a special substrate of biochar that will help young plants to take root and to sustainably protect against diseases.
10.04.2025 News
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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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Sun, 04/13/2025 - 12:00 In-depth report
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Through the Horizon Europe framework program, the European Union supports researchers from academia and industry in realizing their ideas. How can bioeconomy researchers benefit from this attractive EU funding? This dossier offers a compact overview of the wide range of funding formats and explains where interested parties can get help with their application.
Fri, 07/12/2024 - 12:00 In-depth report
Food Plants Agriculture sciences
Vanillin is arguably the most important flavoring in the world. The bio-based economy can contribute in various ways to the sustainable, reliable and high-quality supply of vanillin. This dossier describes indoor farming methods for vanilla cultivation and highlights biotechnological and chemical approaches on the way to vanilla flavoring.
19.12.2024 News
Food Plants Biotechnology/Systems biology
The Munich-based food tech start-up Planet A Foods has received 30 million US dollars in a Series B financing round to further increase its production of cocoa-free chocolate.
27.03.2025 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.
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.
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.
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.
14.04.2025 Sector
Textiles unspecific
The textile industry has always used renewable raw materials, from plant fibres such as linen or cotton to animal products such as wool, silk or leather. With the increasing drive towards more sustainability, bio-based innovations are on the rise. Examples include biotech silk, vegan leather and vegetable tanning and dyeing agents.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
